India saw yet another eruption over alleged insult of Prophet Muhammad on Monday (22) after a lawmaker from the country's ruling Hindu right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the southern state of Telangana allegedly made derogatory remarks against the founder of Islam.
T Raja Singh, who represents the Goshamahal constituency in the state capital of Hyderabad, was arrested on Tuesday (23). A case was also registered against him after protests broke out in the city which has a large Muslim population over a video in which he was seen speaking about the Prophet.
Singh, 45, was arrested under sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups), 295 (injuring or defiling a place of worship with intent to insult the religion) and 505 (public mischief) of the Indian Penal Code.
The protesters demanded his immediate arrest saying his remarks hurt the sentiments of the community. The police took them into custody at the commissioner's office in Hyderabad's Basheerbagh and later shifted them to various police stations.
Singh released a "comedy" video against comedian Munawar Faruqui who staged a show in Hyderabad last week amid protests. The BJP lawmaker had threatened to stop Faruqui's show and burn down the set. He was placed under house arrest after issuing the threat.
The BJP leader claimed that Faruqui hurt the Hindu community's religious sentiments and made remarks against the latter and his mother, besides allegedly making controversial remarks about the Prophet in the video.
Asaduddin Owaisi, a parliamentarian from Hyderabad and one of India's major Muslim faces, slammed the BJP over the incident saying the saffron party should fight politically instead of doing such things. "Why is the BJP doing all this? They should fight politically. Why are you trying to ruin Hyderabad and Telangana?" he asked.
The incident in Hyderabad comes just months after former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma's controversial remarks on the Prophet at a television debate caused a massive outrage, including in a number of Muslim nations. Sharma was suspended by the BJP and several cases were filed against her across the country. There were even incidents of murder of people for allegedly backing her viewpoints.
BJP supporters celebrate as the party takes lead during the West Bengal Assembly elections result day, at Raiganj, in Uttar Dinajpur district, Monday, May 4, 2026.PTI
In this screengrab from a video posted on May 4, 2026, Family members of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay, including S A Chandrasekhar and Shoba, celebrate as early trends show the party leading in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, in Chennai. PTI
Congress MP KC Venugopal celebrates with party workers as the party takes lead during the Kerala Assembly elections result day outside KPCC office, in Thiruvananthapuram, Monday, May 4, 2026. PTI
Artists play traditional drums as BJP workers celebrate the party taking lead during the Assam Assembly elections results day, at party headquarters, in Guwahati, Monday, May 4, 2026. PTI
Puducherry: Poll officials during the counting of votes for the Puducherry Assembly elections at a counting centre, in Puducherry, Monday, May 4, 2026. PTI