Hyderabad BJP MLA Raja Singh booked for 'those hosting Iftar party are vote ke bhikhari' remark

HYDERABAD: Raja Singh, the controversial BJP MLA from Hyderabad, has been booked for allegedly saying that only those "begging for vote" host Iftar parties.

According to ANI, a case has been registered against Singh at the Falaknuma Police Station for hurting religious sentiments by slamming those hosting Iftar parties.

Hyderabad: Case registered against BJP MLA Raja Singh at Falaknuma Police Station for hurting religious sentiments after he allegedly remarked on #iftar parties hosted by political parties, in a video message he posted on social media. (file pic) pic.twitter.com/9kO6RgIR6Z — ANI (@ANI) June 12, 2018

Commenting on the growing trend among the political parties for hosting the Iftar party, Singh had on Monday said that he would neither host nor attend such events. 

Known for making contentious statements, the MLA from Goshamahal constituency in Hyderabad also posted a video message on a social networking site where he said that one of his friends suggested him to hold an Iftar party like many other lawmakers do during the holy month of Ramzan.

"These days many Telangana legislators are busy hosting Iftar parties, wearing skull caps and taking selfies. They think if they have to do vote bank politics, they will have to think of 'sabka saath, sabha vikas' (together will all, development for all),'' Singh said.

"This is their thinking. Those who sit with them (those attending Iftar) are 'vote ke bhikhari' (beggars for vote). My thinking is different," he added.

Singh said that his religion Hinduism taught giving respect to everyone.

"But some religions and their religious books preach to kill Hindus as they are 'Kafir' (a term literally meaning non-believers but often construed as insulting to followers of other religions). How can I attend an Iftar or host one for those who talk of killing Hindus?" he said.

Singh said when his friend disputed his contention and wanted a proof in support of his claim, he told him that it was mentioned in the "green book".

"This green book is responsible for the spread of terrorism in India and it should be banned. I will fight to get it banned," he said.

The BJP leader said that he dreams of an "akhand Hindu rashtra" (an undivided Hindu nation), building a Ram temple in Ayodhya, a ban on cow slaughter in the entire country and return of displaced Kashmiri Pandits.

He said it was because of "secularwadi" (secularist) Hindus that the Mughals and the British ruled India.

"When there are over 50 Muslim countries and more than 100 Christian countries, why can't there be a single Hindu nation?" Singh questioned.

Singh recently accused Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao of hosting Iftar at different mosques in the state to "appease" the minorities.

"KCR wants aid from Centre as state is in financial crisis but for appeasement of minorities #Telangana government is spending 66 crore for #Iftar party Development over vote bank politics #Iftar politics," he tweeted.

#KCR wants aid from centre as state is in financial crisis but for appeasement of minorities #Telangana government is spending 66 Crores for #IftarParty Development over vote bank politics #Iftarpolitics@KTRTRS @TelanganaCMO pic.twitter.com/gDwwAk5hyM — Raja Singh BJP MLA (@TigerRajaSingh) June 8, 2018

However, this is not the first time that Raja Singh has been booked for making provocative statements. He has earlier been booked by the Hyderabad Police in connection with his alleged hate speeches.

He had once triggered a controversy, saying that the heads of those opposing construction of Ram temple at Ayodhya be chopped off.

(With PTI inputs)