T. Raja Singh Explained

T. Raja Singh
Birth Name:Thakur Raja Singh Lodh
Birth Date:15 April 1977
Birth Place:Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India[1]
Spouse:T. Usha
Residence:Dhoolpet, Hyderabad
Office:Member of Telangana Legislative Assembly
Constituency:Goshamahal
Term Start:2014
Predecessor:Mukesh Goud
Party:Bharatiya Janata Party
Otherparty:Telugu Desam Party

Thakur Raja Singh (born 15 April 1977), popularly known as Tiger Raja Singh, is an Indian Hindu leader and politician from the state of Telangana.[2] [3] He is the incumbent MLA of the Telangana Legislative Assembly representing the Goshamahal Assembly constituency in Hyderabad.[4]

Singh had served as the party whip for the Bharatiya Janata Party in the state of Telangana.[5] He was suspended from the party on 23 August 2022 for his remarks on Muhammad, during the 2022 Muhammad remarks controversy, but his suspension was revoked on 22 October 2023, so that he could participate in the assembly elections.[6] [7] He is one of the most controversial politicians in India, with more than 105 criminal cases registered against him, of which 18 were related to communal offences.[8] [9] [10]

Personal life

T. Raja Singh was born to T. Naval Singh and hails from Goshamahal, Hyderabad.[11] He is married to T. Usha. He has three sons and one daughter. Many members of the Lodhi community had migrated to Hyderabad from North India during the Nizam period.[12]

For the 2023 Telangana Legislative Assembly election, he self-declared 83 criminal cases and assets of 4.7 crore.

Political Career

In his early thirties, Singh was close to Mukesh Goud, the Goshamahal MLA from the Congress party, and Mettu Vaikuntam, the BJP corporator from Goshamahal. These connections helped him gain a following in Goshamahal. With Goud’s help, Singh was also involved in the Congress Party’s youth wing for some time.[13] [14]

Singh started his political career in 2009 with the Telugu Desam Party and was elected as the representative from Mangalhat to the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) until 2014. It was a stronghold of the Indian National Congress before his arrival.[15]

He joined the BJP ahead of the 2014 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election, on the insistence of Mettu Vaikuntam, and won the election for the Goshamahal Assembly constituency with a margin of 46,793 against Mukesh Goud.[16]

In 2018, he was re-elected to the Telangana Legislative Assembly from the same constituency with a margin of 17,734 against the Bharat Rashtra Samithi candidate Prem Singh Rathore.[17]

Since his joining the BJP in 2014, he has left the party thrice on the grounds that the BJP has not been doing enough for the Hindus and more so for cow protection. Intelligence officials have claimed that he is one of the main men in the "Sriram Yuva Sena", a pro-hindutva organisation from the days of United Andhra Pradesh, consisting mainly of gau-rakshaks. The group emerged for a while after his suspension from the BJP for his controversial remarks against Prophet Muhammad.

In October 2023, following the revocation of his suspension, he was fielded as the BJP candidate in the 2023 Telangana Legislative Assembly elections, and won the seat for the third time in a row.[18]

Controversies

In April 2010, he was arrested on charge of fanning communal clashes in Hyderabad.

In 2012, when he was the Mangalhat representative for GHMC, Hyderabad Police nabbed him for theft and other crimes. They claimed he had knowingly purchased and had been using a stolen Toyota Qualis that belonged to the Government of Kerala for the past two years. It had been registered using fake documents, against a registration number that belonged to a TVS Champ two-wheeler. His close associates alleged that the arrest was influenced by other political parties[19] [20]

In 2017, Singh was embroiled in various alleged hate speech controversies, including his remarks in May 2017 where he called the Old City area in Hyderabad "mini Pakistan."[21] In July 2017, he appealed to the Hindu community in West Bengal to respond in a manner similar to the 2002 Gujarat riots.[22] He has also repeatedly called for the establishment of a Hindu Rashtra by armed means.[23] [24] [25]

In June 2018, Singh called for a Quran ban.[26] He is known for his vocal anti-Muslim views, which includes calling them traitors and backing the shooting of Rohingya people.[27] [28] In a video message, he said that 'illegal' Rohingya Muslims and Bangladeshis should be shot dead if they didn't leave the country respectfully, and labelled them as pests.[29] In 2023, during Shiv Jayanti, in Shrirampur, Ahmad Nagar district, he made remarks against Muslims which led to a riot.[30] On 2 September 2020, Facebook labelled Singh as a "dangerous individual" and banned him from all Facebook platforms.[31]

Amid the 2022 Muhammad remarks controversy, Singh was arrested by the Hyderabad Police on 23 August 2022, hours after his comments about Muhammad sparked protests in the city.[32] He was subsequently suspended from BJP for violating party norms.[33] He was released on bail the same evening but later arrested again on 25 August 2022.[34] [35] In October 2023, the BJP revoked his suspension ahead of the assembly elections in Telangana.[36]

He was booked multiple times for violating the Model Code of Conduct during the 2024 Indian general elections, by allegedly singing Islamophobic songs during an unauthorised rally in Afzal Gunj on, and for conducting a rally beyond the permitted time in Khanapur on 8 May 2024.[37] [38] [39]

In June 2024, he threatened comedian Daniel Fernandes for making jokes against Jains. Daniel had to cancel his show in Hyderabad after these threats.[40] [41]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: SRI T. RAJA SINGH LODH. Telangana Legislative Assembly. 5 May 2021. 6 May 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210506051758/https://www.telanganalegislature.org.in/web/legislative-assembly/members-information?p_auth=qobiciIQ&p_p_id=AssemblyMemberInfo_WAR_TGportlet&p_p_lifecycle=1&p_p_state=normal&p_p_mode=view&p_p_col_id=column-1&p_p_col_count=1&_AssemblyMemberInfo_WAR_TGportlet_const_id=65&_AssemblyMemberInfo_WAR_TGportlet_javax.portlet.action=getMemberDetails&_AssemblyMemberInfo_WAR_TGportlet_mem_id=3083&_AssemblyMemberInfo_WAR_TGportlet_term_id=15. dead.
  2. Web site: Sri T. Raja Singh . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231215132926/https://legislature.telangana.gov.in/getmemberdetailsnew?memid=3083&constid=65&termid=15&orderby=1 . 15 December 2023 . 30 March 2023 . Legislative Assembly - Telangana Legislature.
  3. News: BJP firebrand 'Tiger' Singh leads in Hyderabad seat he has won since 2014. prasad . Nichenametla. 3 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231203071926/https://theprint.in/elections/bjp-firebrand-tiger-singh-leads-in-hyderabad-seat-he-has-won-since-2014/1869490/. 3 December 2023. live. 28 May 2024.
  4. News: Buddi . Mahesh . 20 November 2018 . Cases against former BJP MLA Raja Singh double in four years . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20181120181429/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/cases-against-former-bjp-mla-raja-singh-double-in-four-years/articleshow/66701044.cms . 20 November 2018 . 23 March 2024 . The Times of India.
  5. News: 2 December 2015 . Telangana BJP MLA Raja Singh Lodh says ready to kill people for eating beef, threatens Dadri-like incident . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20151204045530/http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-telangana-bjp-mla-raja-singh-lodh-says-ready-to-kill-people-for-eating-beef-threatens-dadri-like-incident-2151031 . 4 December 2015 . 23 March 2024 . DNA India.
  6. News: Bureau . The Hindu . 22 October 2023 . BJP Goshamahal MLA T. Raja Singh suspension revoked . en-IN . The Hindu . 23 October 2023 . 0971-751X.
  7. News: Bureau . The Hindu . 23 August 2022 . BJP suspends Telangana MLA Raja Singh . en-IN . The Hindu . 23 August 2022 . 0971-751X.
  8. News: Basheer . Abdul . 27 October 2023 . Telangana advisory board upholds BJP leader Raja Singh's detention under PD Act . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230320152134/https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/telangana-advisory-board-upholds-mla-t-raja-singh-detention-pd-act-2289839-2022-10-26 . 20 March 2023 . 20 March 2023 . India Today.
  9. News: Anand . Utkarsh . 18 January 2024 . Want hate speech to stop but can't put pre-emptive curbs: Supreme Court . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240228062537/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/want-hate-speech-to-stop-but-can-t-put-pre-emptive-curbs-supreme-court-101705518221126.html . 28 February 2024 . 28 February 2024 . Hindustan Times.
  10. Web site: 26 February 2024 . Litany of cases against T Raja Singh: BJP's rabble-rouser MLA known for anti-minority rhetoric . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240226143834/https://indianexpress.com/article/political-pulse/bjp-mla-t-raja-singh-cases-9182283/ . 26 February 2024 . 19 April 2024 . . en.
  11. Web site: T. Raja Singh (Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP)) : Constituency- GOSHAMAHAL (HYDERABAD) - Affidavit Information of Candidate . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240405125643/https://myneta.info/Telangana2023/candidate.php?candidate_id=87 . 5 April 2024 . 24 June 2024 . MyNeta.
  12. Web site: Sasikumar . Meenakshy . 26 October 2023 . Telangana Assembly Polls: Why Are Raja Singh & Goshamahal So Important for BJP? . 29 June 2024 . TheQuint . en.
  13. Web site: MLA With A Long Criminal Record & Penchant For Anti-Muslim Hate Speeches Is Vital To BJP's Telangana Push . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220825213534/https://www.article-14.com/post/mla-with-a-long-criminal-record-penchant-for-anti-muslim-hate-speeches-is-vital-to-bjp-s-telangana-push-62f0744084382 . 25 August 2022 . 1 January 2024 . article-14.com.
  14. News: Mukka . Vikram . 25 September 2022 . How Raja Singh of Hyderabad's Goshamahal Emerged as the New Poster Boy of Hindutva . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231114205736/https://thewire.in/politics/raja-singh-goshamahal-hyderabad-hindutva-profile . 14 November 2023 . 1 January 2024 . The Wire (India).
  15. Web site: 24 August 2022 . Who is Raja Singh, the suspended BJP MLA from Telangana? . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231215224857/https://www.cnbctv18.com/politics/bjp-mla-raja-singh-from-telangana-14576081.htm . 15 December 2023 . 28 April 2023 . cnbctv18.com . en.
  16. Web site: Alamgir . Mir . 4 September 2022 . Sriram Yuva Sena: Raja Singh's Hindutva group in Hyderabad comes alive . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231216001449/https://www.siasat.com/sriram-yuva-sena-raja-singhs-hindutva-group-in-hyderabad-comes-alive-2405151/ . 16 December 2023 . The Siasat Daily.
  17. Web site: Live GOSHAMAHAL Seat Election Result 2018 in Telangana . 28 April 2023 . . en.
  18. Web site: Goshamahal Assembly Election Results 2023 Highlights: BJP's T. Raja Singh wins Goshamahal with 80182 votes . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231215225821/https://www.indiatoday.in/elections/story/goshamahal-assembly-election-results-2023-live-2470977-2023-12-03 . 15 December 2023 . 1 January 2024 . India Today . 3 December 2023 . en.
  19. Web site: 13 March 2012 . TDP corporator arrested for using stolen vehicle . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231211195900/https://www.news18.com/news/politics/tdp-corporator-arrested-for-using-stolen-vehicle-454973.html . 11 December 2023 . 1 January 2024 . News18 . en.
  20. News: 13 March 2012 . Mangalhat corporator held, aides cry foul . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240101205829/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/mangalhat-corporator-held-aides-cry-foul/articleshow/12240459.cms . 1 January 2024 . 1 January 2024 . . 0971-8257.
  21. News: BJP MLA, who described old Hyderabad as 'mini Pakistan', booked. www.newindianexpress.com. 14 May 2017. 20 March 2023.
  22. News: 'Hindus in Bengal should respond like they did in Gujarat. www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com. 19 July 2017. 20 March 2023.
  23. News: Cases booked against BJP Telangana MLA and Ram Sene chief for. www.business-standard.com. 15 December 2017. 20 March 2023.
  24. News: Hate speech: Another case filed against suspended BJP MLA Raja Singh in Hyderabad. The Times of India. 3 April 2023. 11 April 2023.
  25. News: Suspended BJP MLA T Raja Singh booked for hate speech at Shivjayanti event. www.indianexpress.com. 14 March 2023. 20 March 2023.
  26. News: BJP MLA Raja Singh to be charged for hateful remarks of banning 'green book'. Deccan Chronicle. 18 June 2018. 20 March 2023.
  27. News: Horwitz. Newley Purnell and Jeff. 14 August 2020. Facebook's Hate-Speech Rules Collide With Indian Politics. en-US. Wall Street Journal. 28 April 2021. 0099-9660. 12 February 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210212052207/https://www.wsj.com/articles/facebook-hate-speech-india-politics-muslim-hindu-modi-zuckerberg-11597423346. live.
  28. News: 'Only Criticised AIMIM, Not Muslims': 5 Instances That Prove Raja Singh Wrong. www.thequint.com. 11 October 2022. 20 March 2023.
  29. News: . Rohingyas, Bangladeshis should be shot dead if they do not leave India, says BJP MLA . Scroll.in . 31 July 2018 . 3 December 2023.
  30. News: 20 March 2023 . Hate speeches: Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar police register 7 FIRs for property damage, stone pelting . www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com . 20 March 2023 . 10 June 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240610060755/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/aurangabad/hate-speeches-chhatrapati-sambhajinagar-police-register-7-firs-for-property-damage-stone-pelting/articleshow/98794240.cms . live .
  31. Web site: Facebook bans politician of India's ruling party for violating hate speech. Manish. Singh. 3 September 2020. 3 September 2020. 10 June 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240610060758/https://techcrunch.com/2020/09/02/facebook-bans-politician-of-indias-ruling-party-for-violating-hate-speech/. live.
  32. Web site: Tomar . Ajay . 23 August 2022 . BJP MLA Raja Singh was held for comments against the Muslims, while he replied that all his comments were a retort to controversial "comedian" Munnawar Faruqui's show, where he abused and insulted Hindu gods. . 23 August 2022 . The South First . en-GB . 10 June 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240610060802/https://thesouthfirst.com/news/raja-singh-arrested/ . live .
  33. Web site: 23 August 2022 . BJP Telangana MLA T Raja Singh suspended for remarks against Prophet Mohammad . 26 August 2022 . Hindustan Times . en . 10 June 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240610060756/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/bjp-telangana-mla-t-raja-singh-suspended-for-remarks-against-prophet-mohammad-101661247131463.html . live .
  34. Web site: 25 August 2022 . Out on bail, suspended Telangana BJP leader T Raja Singh arrested again . 26 August 2022 . The Indian Express . en . 10 June 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240610060759/https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/hyderabad/t-raja-singh-arrested-bjp-mla-prophet-remarks-8111443/ . live .
  35. Web site: 9 November 2022 . BJP MLA Raja Singh to walk out of jail after 76 days . The News Minute . en . 18 February 2023 . 10 June 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240610060804/https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?creatorScreenName=migrator&dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-2&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1799679113478934556&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thenewsminute.com%2Ftelangana%2Fbjp-mla-raja-singh-walk-out-jail-after-76-days-169779&sessionId=5a537e9894057ebd67b2672365430c3b2cce895d&siteScreenName=thenewsminute&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px . live .
  36. Web site: 22 October 2023 . BJP revokes suspension of Telangana MLA T Raja Singh over Prophet remarks . 25 November 2023 . The Indian Express . en . 10 June 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240610060800/https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/hyderabad/bjp-revokes-suspension-telangana-mla-t-raja-singh-prophet-remarks-8994583/ . live .
  37. Web site: Lasania . Yunus . 18 April 2024 . Hyderabad: BJP MLA Raja Singh booked for unauthorised Ram Navami rally . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240419021657/https://www.siasat.com/bjp-mla-raja-singh-booked-by-hyderabad-police-for-unauthorised-rally-3011236/ . 19 April 2024 . 19 April 2024 . . en-US.
  38. Web site: 18 April 2024 . BJP MLA Raja Singh faces charges for unpermitted rally on Sri Ram Navami . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240419171053/https://telanganatoday.com/bjp-mla-raja-singh-faces-charges-for-unpermitted-rally-on-sri-ram-navami . 19 April 2024 . 19 April 2024 . . en.
  39. News: 9 May 2024 . BJP's Raja Singh, G Nagesh booked for model code violation in Nirmal . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240509080415/https://telanganatoday.com/bjps-raja-singh-g-nagesh-booked-for-model-code-violation-in-nirmal . 9 May 2024 . 13 May 2024 . Telangana Today.
  40. Web site: 29 June 2024 . Comic Daniel Fernandez cancels Hyderabad show after Raja Singh's threat . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240629153727/https://www.siasat.com/comic-daniel-fernandez-cancels-hyderabad-show-after-raja-singhs-threat-3053051/ . 29 June 2024 . 30 June 2024 . . en.
  41. News: 29 June 2024 . Stand-up comedian's show in Hyderabad cancelled following threats by BJP MLA . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240629180707/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/stand-up-comedians-show-in-hyderabad-cancelled-following-threats-by-bjp-mla/article68349365.ece . 29 June 2024 . 30 June 2024 . . en-IN . 0971-751X.

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