In August last year, Raja Singh was suspended by the BJP following contentious remarks against Prophet Muhammad. However, in October, the BJP revoked his suspension.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA T Raja Singh from Goshamahal, Hyderabad, took out the Ram Navami Shobha Yatra on Wednesday, April 17, from the Akashpuri Hanuman Temple in Dhoolpet. During the procession, Singh sang songs with Islamophobic undertones and glorifying Hindutva ideals, a practice he has persisted with despite facing legal repercussions for hate speech.
Fact-Checker, co-founder of AltNews Mohammed Zubair posted the video on X (formerly Twitter) and tagged the Chief Election Commissioner and the Election Commission to draw their towards attention the hate speech by Raja Singh. He wrote, “This hate speech by Telengana BJP MLA @TigerRajaSingh targeting Muslim community is ignored by all the National News Channels, News Agencies and News Anchors and @rajivkumarec @SpokespersonECI @ECISVEEP”.
Wearing saffron clothes and a turban featuring an image of the Ram Temple, Singh started the procession after offering prayers at the local Hanuman temple. Accompanied by his armed guards, perched atop a vehicle equipped with a sound system, Singh led the rally towards Hanuman Vyamshala Koti, despite being denied permission by the authorities.
On Tuesday, Singh had posted a video on X and claimed that the police had rejected permission at the last moment though he had submitted his application for permission nearly 40-42 days back. However, he still went ahead and it is to be seen what action will be taken against him.
Throughout the route, Singh interacted with the public and delivered speeches. He presented a new song, “Angar hai hum, Toofan hai hum. Sunlo re sunlo. Pakistani mulloh, Bharat se bhaganeh ayeh hai hum,” alongside his previous track “Baap toh baap rehenga“.
He also made more provocative statements like, “abhi toh tu ek Babri se hi ghabra gaya, abhi toh Kashi baki hai, Mathura baki hai, 40,000 Hindu mandir baki hai. Hum hamari peedi ko kar seva sikhate hi rahenge. Hum Kashi-Mathura leke rahenge” (You’re just trembling at Babri now, Kashi and Mathura are yet to come, along with 40,000 Hindu temples. We will continue to train our car sevaks. We will reclaim Kashi and Mathura).
During the yatra, Singh urged devotees to organize a recitation of the Hanuman Chalisa in all temples on Tuesdays or Saturdays.
Singh has conducted such processions since 2010, despite facing legal actions for his inflammatory rhetoric. Known for his cow vigilantism and history of hate speeches, Singh was jailed for nearly three months under the Preventive Detention Act, and has over 100 cases filed against him.
In August last year, Singh was suspended by the BJP following contentious remarks against Prophet Muhammad. However, in October, the BJP revoked his suspension after receiving his response to a show-cause notice.
