TN BJP leader H Raja courts controversy again

Chennai: BJP national secretary H Raja has waded into a controversy yet again, picking up a quarrel with police over an immersion procession of Lord Ganesh idols in Pudukottai district of Tamil Nadu.

As a video of Raja angrily arguing with policemen went viral in the social media, the opposition DMK Sunday demanded action against him, while the AIADMK government deprecated the BJP leader's remarks.

Raja, known for stirring controversies by his remarks, Saturday engaged in a verbal duel with the policemen in Meiyyapuram village, calling the force as "anti-Hindu" and "highly corrupt." 

His outbursts came after police declined permission for taking out the idol procession through a particular route citing "a court order." Raja, however, refused to accept the police contention and spoke against the order.

DMK organising secretary R S Barathi, in a tweet on Sunday demanded that the Tamil Nadu government take legal action against Raja for his remarks against the policemen and the judiciary.

Senior Minister D Jayakumar deprecated the outburst against police and said the government was considering action and holding consultations with legal experts. 

He expressed his hope that the court would take action on its own against Raja for his remarks against the judiciary.

Hours after the Minister said action was being contemplated, the Tirumayam police in Pudukottai district registered a case against Raja and seven others, including two BJP functionaries and five local leaders of Hindu outfits under several sections of the IPC. 

The sections include those relating to promoting enmity on grounds of religion, unlawful assembly, public nuisance, use of obscene words, preventing a public servant from discharging his duty and criminal intimidation.

Raja, meanwhile, addressing a meet ahead of a Ganesh Chaturthi procession in Tiruvarur district Sunday said his remarks were "selectively edited," and being disseminated. 

He alleged that anyone who spoke in defence of Hindus were being targeted.  

The BJP leader has been embroiled in several controversies in the past over his remarks on various issues.

In March this year, a row erupted over Raja's remarks indicating that statues of rationalist leader E V Ramasamy "Periyar" could be the next to be pulled down after a Lenin statue was razed in Tripura.

He, however, sought to blame his Facebook administrator for the gaffe and expressed regret over the comments.