Hyderabad: Hit with a gag order from the Telangana High Court, suspended Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA T Raja Singh seems to be subverting his restrictions by passing communal and inflammatory remarks from outside the state. The legislator is currently out on bail after he was arrested for his derogatory remarks on Prophet Muhammad last year, which led to several protests.
While quashing Singh’s detention in jail under the PD Act last year, the High Court, as part of its bail order, warned the BJP MLA was told not to make provocative speeches or speak in public. So far, a case has already been registered against him in recent times for violating the court orders (with the Mangalhat police station). He was served another notice by the Hyderabad police on January 29 for a hate speech in Mumbai.
His statements come just months ahead of the Telangana state elections, which are due this year. With restrictions on him, Raja Singh is currently unable to carry out political campaigns or hold public rallies as he would have ideally done in the run-up to the polls. It is unsure how the state judiciary will react to him making speeches outside, with the logic that it is beyond the HC’s jurisdiction.
The suspended MLA represents the Goshamahal constituency under the GHMC area in Hyderabad.
When asked if the party will lift Raja Singh’s suspension, BJP leaders from Telangana remained tight-lipped and said that the decision is for the central leadership to make. “He is popular among some people and they want his suspension to go, so we have to wait and see,” said one leader.
After his Mumbai speech, it is to be seen what Raja Singh does next or if he legally challenges his current inability to speak in public in Hyderabad and Telangana.
This story was originally published in siasat.com . Read the full story here