Firebrand leader Raja Singh Lodh will be the sole torchbearer for the BJP in the Assembly as all other party candidates bit the dust in the 7 December Telangana polls.
Singh, known in many quarters for his "inflammatory" comments, and who has over 60 cases against him, mostly for "hate speeches", retained his Goshamahal Assembly constituency in Hyderabad, PTI reported.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had, in fact, campaigned for him in the segment.
Here are some infamous instances of Raja making, what can only be termed as, “hate speeches”.
Threatening to Burn Down Theatres
Addressing a Rajput gathering ahead of the Padmaavat release last year, Raja Singh had threatened to burn down theatres in Hyderabad if they screened the movie. Calling for a boycott of the film, Raja said that it is “every nationalist’s duty, every Hindu’s duty and every Rajput’s duty.” Later, he wrote to Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao asking for a ban on the film.
Asked Hindus in Bengal to Respond Like ‘2002 Gujarat’
In July 2017, Raja was at the eye of another storm when he spoke about the communal clashes in Baduria and Basirhat districts of West Bengal. Raja had then said that Hindus in Bengal would be made to leave as Hindus in Kashmir were, and soon it would be converted into a state like Bangladesh.
“This is why I appeal to my Hindu brothers, and Bengal tigers, to wake up. My brothers, you remember what happened in 2002 in Gujarat, when Hindus were killed. The way that the Hindus responded in Gujarat, today, there is a need for Hindus in Bengal to respond the same way.”Raja has said in a video
The ‘Mini Pakistan’ Row
In May 2017, he described Hyderabad’s Old City area as “mini Pakistan” and requested the Chief Minister to conduct a search operation in Old City, where “they would be able to find bombs and other explosives from a number of houses.” The police had registered a case against him then.
Called Kashmiri Muslims ‘Traitors’
In a video that was circulating in May 2017, Raja dubbed Kashmiri Muslims “traitors”, and asked people visiting holy sites like Amarnath not to buy anything from them.
“If we don't buy anything from them for a few years, these traitor Kashmiri Muslims will get on their knees and say that they don't want Pakistan or 'Azad Kashmir', but that they will stay with India only,” he was heard saying.
Said He Was Ready to Take a Life For Ram Mandir
In April 2017, the BJP legislator, commenting on the Babri Masjid demolition case, demanded a Ram temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya, and said that he was ready to give his life, or take a life, for it.
Threatened People Who Didn’t Sing ‘Vande Mataram’
In another instance in April, he threatened people to sing Vande Mataram.
“You have to sing ‘Vande Mataram’. If you don’t sing it, you have no right to be in India. You will see soon that we don’t have to put a sword to your neck. You will lower your head, get on your knees and accept to sing it because you want to stay in India.”Raja Singh Lodh
An FIR had been registered against him for this speech, under Section 295A of the IPC.
Called Pinarayi a ‘Murderer of Hindus’
In March, 2017, he threatened to stop a meeting organised by the CPI(M) in Hyderabad, which saw Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in attendance. Stating that the Hindu community was not safe in Kerala, he called Pinarayi “a murderer of Hindus”.
There are multiple other instances where Raja Singh made extremely controversial statements. As TS Sudhir pointed out: “Raja Singh does not subscribe to the image of a disciplined BJP soldier who would adhere to the party line on most matters.”
And yet, he is the only BJP candidate to have been elected to power in Telangana. Now what does that say?
(With inputs from The News Minute)
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