Una incident: T’gana BJP MLA booked for ‘hate speech’

A case has been registered here against Telangana BJP MLA Raja Singh for his remarks which allegedly defended the attacks on Dalits in Gujarat’s Una and supported the cow vigilantes involved, police said on Thursday.

Mala Sankshema Sangam president B Ramprasad lodged a complaint with Mangalhat Police here accusing Singh of delivering hate speech through his statements. 

Following the complaint, a case was registered on August 2 under IPC section 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc, and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) against the BJP MLA, Mangalhat Police Station Sub-Inspector Sekhar said. “The matter is under investigation,” said K Ram Bhupal Rao, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Goshamahal Division).

In a two-and-half minute video posted on Facebook on July 30, Singh had defended the cow vigilantes, saying those who consume cow meat are bringing “disgrace” to the entire community and should be “taught a lesson”. “I am asking those Dalits (who kill cows). Is it necessary to murder cow and eat its meat? This is absolutely wrong. It is because of such galeez (dirty or disgusting) Dalits, 

that the image of whole Dalit community, which is patriotic, follows dharma, and worships cows, is tarnished.