By Abu Muhammad

Indian police have arrested a state legislator from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party for derogatory comments he made against Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

Thakur Raja Singh is a BJP member of the state Legislative Assembly in Hyderabad in India’s southern Telangana state.

Thousands of Muslims protested against Singh on Monday evening after the video appeared on social media, footage from the media showed.

According to Hyderabad police, Singh, was arrested on Tuesday morning after multiple cases were registered against him in different locations in the city.

The Hindu nationalist BJP on Tuesday suspended Singh for violating the party’s code, Indian media reports said.

“You have expressed views contrary to the party’s position on various matters which is clear violation of Rule XXV 10 (a) of the constitution of Bharatiya Janata Party,” a notice issued by the right-wing party’s central disciplinary committee head Om Pathak said.

“I have been directed to convey to you that pending further inquiry, you are suspended from the party and from your responsibilities with immediate effect. Please also show cause within 10 days as to why should you not be expelled from the party.”

Asaduddin Owaisi, a prominent Muslim parliamentarian from Telangana’s capital Hyderabad, condemned the comments made by the BJP legislator.

“The BJP doesn’t want to see that there is peace in Hyderabad. The BJP hates Prophet Muhammad and Muslims. They want to destroy the social fabric of India,” he told India’s ANI news agency.

“Fight with us politically, we are ready for that but don’t spew hatred in the society and instigate communal riots here. Insulting the Prophet and the Muslim community has become the official policy of the BJP.”

Recently, Nupur Sharma, a BJP spokeswoman, made insulting remarks about the Prophet during a TV debate, eliciting widespread condemnation both at home and in the Muslim world.

Her remarks were condemned by the Indian government and the party, which suspended her.

Another BJP spokesman, Naveen Kumal Jindal, was expelled from the party for making comments on social media in support of Sharma and against Islam.

Following their remarks, massive rallies were held across the country.

More than a dozen Muslim-majority countries, as well as international organisations, had condemned the controversial remarks. [ Source Al Jazeera & TRT World]