MUMBAI – Indian police on Tuesday detained a state lawmaker from PrimeMinister Narendra Modi’s party for “promoting enmity in the name ofreligion”.
Muslim groups had demanded his arrest for his comments in a video aboutProphet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
The detention of T. Raja Singh, a lawmaker in the southern state ofTelangana, comes months after his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) suspended aspokesperson for her remarks about the Holy Prophet (PBUH) that had led toa diplomatic backlash against India.
“He has been charged with promoting enmity in the name of religion,” saysJoel Davis, a senior police official in Hyderabad city.
“We have detained him and we will arrest him. This is about the recentvideo that he posted.”
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Singh could not be reached for comment.
The Hindu nationalist BJP would examine Singh’s remarks and take action ifhe was found to have violated its code, party spokesperson K Krishna Raosaid.
Hundreds of Muslims protested against Singh on Monday evening after thevideo appeared on social media.
