Journalism of Courage
Suspended BJP leader and Telangana MLA, T Raja Singh has been booked by Ahmednagar district police for alleged hate speech towards Muslim community during a programme organised in Shrirampur town of the district on the occasion of Shivjayanti last week.
Officials from Shrirampur police station said that Singh was invited to a programme held on March 10, observed as Shivjayanti — birth anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. While February 19 is observed every year as Shivjayanti as per the Gregorian calendar, the birth anniversary fell on March 10 according to this year’s Hindu calendar.
“During his speech at the Shivjayanti event on March 10, T Raja Singh made derogatory remarks towards the Muslim community. On Monday, some local members of the community approached us and filed a complaint based on which an offence has been registered against him. We have invoked Indian Penal Code sections 295, 504 and 506.” said Inspector Harshwardhan Gawali, in-charge of Shrirampur town police station.
IPC Section 295 pertains to injuring or defiling a place of worship with intent to insult the religion of any class, while 504 and 506 pertain to intentional insult and criminal intimidation, respectively.
Earlier in February an FIR was registered against him in Latur district of Maharashtra for alleged hate speech during a February 19 Shivjayanti event. In August 2022, Singh was arrested by Telangana police for his remarks against Islam and Prophet Mohammed after which the BJP distanced itself from his comment and suspended him from the party.
