Raja Bhaiyya’s father under house arrest

Uday Pratap Singh, father of Uttar Pradesh minister Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias Raja Bhaiyya, was placed under house arrest in Pratapgarh after he insisted on holding a ‘bhandara’ (community feast) at a local temple.

Twelve other people have been kept under house arrest along with the erstwhile ruler of Bhadri estate in Pratapgarh.

According to reports, the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court had stayed the holding of the feast at the Hanuman temple which is located near a mosque during the period of Muharram.

ADG (law and order) Daljit Singh said since Mr Singh was defying the court order and wanted to hold the ‘bhandara’, he was placed under house arrest.

Some local Muslims had filed a petition in the high court alleging that Mr Singh invariably organised the feast at the temple during Muharram, which is a period of mourning. The petitioners claimed that bhajans were played, which disturbed their religious sentiments. Raja Bhaiyya refused to comment on the issue.