Telangana MLA T. Raja Singh Calls for Hindu Rashtra, Criticizes Opposition to National Anthem Chanting

Telangana MLA T. Raja Singh hit out at those opposing chanting of national anthem Vande Mataram and Bharat Mata Ki Jai. He questioned why India cannot become a Hindu Rashtra. At a Ram Navami procession in Hyderabad, the Goshamahal MLA on Friday said, "Those who consider India as their country should not oppose chanting of national anthem Vande Mataram and Bharat Mata Ki Jai. Also, should not indulge in various activities like love jihad." The term love jihad is used by right-wing groups to allege a conspiracy by Muslim men to convert Hindu women to Islam by luring them into love affairs and marriage. T. Raja Singh asked, "Does chanting of Bharat Mata Ki Jai or singing of Vande Mataram endanger anyone's religion?" Brushing aside caste differences with Hindus, he raised the question of working towards achieving a Hindu Rashtra. When the police in Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh have declared cases related to Islamic terrorism in the country, the MLA asked, "Why can't the police in Uttar Pradesh declare a Hindu Rashtra?"