Telangana BJP MLA gives provocative speech, defies Bombay HC order

Telangana BJP legislator makes communal remarks at rally despite court order, sparking controversy in Mumbai.

Telangana BJP legislator T. Raja Singh made communal remarks at a rally in Mira Road on Sunday despite the Bombay High Court granting permission for the event to commemorate the birth anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on the condition that no hate speeches would be delivered.

“Many tried to stop me from entering Mira Road but no power could stand before your love. We must pledge till our last breath that we will save Hindu rashtra, we must fight against love jihad and cow slaughter, and safeguard our religion. Mughal emperor Aurangzeb was known for torturing and killing Hindus, converting their religion, and demolishing our temples,” Mr. Singh said.

The rally also saw provocative songs being played targeting other religious groups and not along Shivaji’s birth anniversary. Music was played to the beating of drums and firecrackers were burst as saffron flags were waved with slogans of ‘Jai Shree Ram’ were raised.

Thousands had gathered for the event from 3 p.m. Party MLA Geeta Jain, who has made provocative speeches in the past, also made communal remarks before the gathering.

“This is the same spot where stones were pelted at Hindus and we have not forgotten. We have come back to finish the unfinished Ram mandir pran pratishtha celebrations and no one can stop us,” Ms. Jain said.

The event also fell on the day of Shab-e-Barat, observed by the Muslim community as the night of forgiveness.

Mira Road had seen communal incidents on the eve of the consecration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 22.