BJP MLA says will behead those who oppose Ram Mandir
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA from Hyderabad T Raja Singh, who is known for his inflammatory speeches, stoked yet another controversy by declaring in public that he would behead those who opposed the construction of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.
A video clipping of Singh’s remark made during the Sri Ram Shobha Yatra on the occasion of Ram Navami on April 5 is going viral on social media.
The BJP MLA, who represents Goshamahal constituency in Hyderabad, was heard saying: “If there is anybody who has the guts to say he would stop the construction of Ram Mandir at Ayodhya, let him come forward. I challenge that I will severe his head.”
He went on to say: “Hitherto, Uttar Pradesh had witnessed timid governments. Now, you have the powerful government (baap ki sarkaar). Nobody can stop construction of Ram Mandir now. Ram Sevaks from all parts of the country will descend on UP to construct the temple. By next Ram Navami, we shall have the Ram Mandir at Ayodhya.”
Without directly referring to Muslim community leaders opposed to the temple, Singh said: “Let them come and touch our feet. We shall construct a mosque for them somewhere nearby.”
Singh is not new to controversies. In December 2015, he came out in support of lynching of Mohmmad Akhlaq by saffron elements at Dadri in Uttar Pradesh. He even warned that there would be a Dadri-like incident in Telangana if there was any repetition of killing of cows for beef.
In July 2016, the BJP MLA justified thrashing of Dalits by cow vigilante groups at Una in Gujarat. He also condemned the media and leaders who had criticised the assault on Dalits.
More recently, Singh warned CPI(M) leaders of dire consequences if they allowed entry of Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan to address a public meeting at Nizam College grounds, which falls under his constituency. He vowed to stall the entry of Vijayan, who he alleged was a murderer of Hindus and responsible for attacks on BJP and RSS activists.