In Maharashtra’s Solapur district, Goshmahal MLA and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader T Raja Singh encouraged violence against minority communities. The event, organized by Sakal Hindu Samaj, witnessed Singh urging saffron-clad Hindutva supporters to adopt violence to establish a Hindu Rashtra and combat what he referred to as ‘love jihad.’
Addressing Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Singh stated, “We appeal to the CM to take strict action against ‘love jihad’ and cow slaughterers. If the state government fails, we will teach them a lesson. We will make sure to pluck these jihadis’ eyes and play with it.”
Singh further propagated the notion of ‘love jihad,’ claiming, “Is rape not happening to our sisters and daughters today in the name of Love Jihad? They are trapped and then made a machine for producing children.”
The term ‘love jihad’ is used by far-right Hindutva supporters to allege that Hindu women are being deceived by Muslim men using fake identities to convert them to Islam.
Singh also called on people to boycott Muslims and discouraged purchasing items from Muslim traders, saying, “If you are purchasing a soap or biscuit or atta (wheat flour), beware of its content. Do not buy if it is halal.”
Singh has a history of making such inflammatory speeches across Telangana, Maharashtra, and other states. During the Telangana Assembly election campaign, he even warned of ‘violent consequences’ if he lost in Goshamahal.
While submitting his nomination papers, Singh admitted to having 75 criminal cases against him, mostly related to hate speech in different parts of Telangana and other states. In 2018 alone, he faced 43 cases, including 38 related to hate speech.
