Mumbai, Maharashtra police have filed a case against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, including Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) T Raja Singh and Nitesh Rane, for incendiary speeches targeting Muslims during a Hindu Jan Aakrosh rally in the Solapur district.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the police report also names several office-bearers of the Sakal Hindu Samaj, an umbrella body of Hindutva organizations. The charges have been filed under provisions of the Indian Penal Code related to creating enmity between different groups and committing acts intended to outrage religious feelings.
Raja Singh, an MLA from Telangana’s Goshamahal constituency with a history of hate speech cases, reportedly made derogatory and genocidal remarks at the Solapur event. He is accused of instigating the crowd to assault individuals involved in “Love Jihad” and to boycott products with halal certification. “Love Jihad” refers to a Hindutva conspiracy theory alleging that Muslim men entice Hindu women into relationships to convert them to Islam, a notion the Indian Union Home Ministry has stated is not defined under Indian law.
Raja Singh also reportedly called for the demolition of mosques and suggested that the Maharashtra government provide bulldozers to MLAs and MPs for use against those accused of “Love Jihad” and cow slaughter, citing the example of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
Nitesh Narayan Rane, another BJP MLA involved in the incident, is a member of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly.
This case represents a significant action by the Maharashtra police in addressing the rising issue of hate speech and religiously charged rhetoric in Indian politics.