H. Raja

Hariharan Raja Sharma[7][8][9] also known as H. Raja is an Indian politician. He started his political-social life as an Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh promoter.[10] He was a MLA representing the Karaikudi constituency in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly from 2001 to 2006.[5] He was one of the national secretaries of the Bharatiya Janata Party from 2014 to 2020.[11]

H. Raja
National Secretary, BJP
Assumed office
2014
Passenger Amenities Committee, Ministry of Railways (India)[1]
Assumed office
November, 2014
Member of Legislative Assembly
In office
2001–2006
Preceded byN. Sundaram
Succeeded byN. Sundaram
ConstituencyKaraikudi
Personal details
Born
Hariharan Raja Sharma [2][3]

(1957-09-29) 29 September 1957[4][5]
Melattur, Thanjavur district, India
NationalityIndian
Political partyBharatiya Janata Party
FatherHariharan Sharma [6]
ResidenceKaraikudi, Tamil Nadu, India
Alma materMadurai Kamaraj University
ProfessionChartered Accountant, Politician
WebsiteOfficial website

Personal life

H. Raja was born to a Brahmin family in a village called Melattur near Thanjavur to Hariharan Sharma.[6][12] His father Hariharan Sharma worked as a professor in Alagappa University and died at the age of 88 in October 2017.[6][13]

By profession, Raja is a chartered accountant.[14]

Political career

H. Raja was a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh activist before he joined the BJP in 1980.[5] He was elected as an MLA of the Karaikudi constituency from 2001–2006. He assumed several roles in BJP including district convener in 1991, followed by state secretary, state general secretary and then, national secretary in 2014. He was removed from his post as a national secretary on September 26, 2020.[11][15]

He was a candidate for the Lok Sabha in the 2019 election but lost to Karti Chidambaram.[16]

Controversies

On March 22, 2018, the Madras High court requested the Chennai police to check his mental health for his communal speeches.[17][18][19]

On October 9, 2017, The police filed a case against H. Raja for his malicious public speech against Periyar, Muslims and Christians in 2014.[20] The Madras High Court has directed the Chennai police to register an FIR against him for his alleged statement that would instigate violence between members of the two communities.[21]

On October 24, 2017, The BJP leader H. Raja was under fire over his remarks on the film Mersal's GST and Digital India monologues, was given police protection. That did not stop him from stoking further controversy by Vijay is a Christian and hence the reason for the criticism of GST in his film.[22] Posting a photo of actor Vijay's voter's ID and official letterhead, on his Twitter account, H. Raja indicated that the popular star is a Christian and his full name is C. Vijay Joseph[23]

In September 2019, A village in Tamil Nadu called Veppur where people printed and pasted poster across the village opposing his arrival for the upcoming Vinayagar Chathurthi festival. On the day of Vinayagar Chathurthi, the police of the village imposed 144 to prevent the entry of H. Raja and further communal fight that could be caused because of his statement.[24]

On September 2, 2020, H Raja from his verified Twitter handle with over 5 lakh followers gave a religious colour to the murder of Arun Prakash, since then many other popular BJP verified handles amplified with #HindusInDanger hashtag.[25] Tamil Nadu Police clarified that it was a case of personal enmity where the ones involved in this crime belonged to different religious backgrounds and requested not to believe in falsehood being spread.[26] This was a repeat after the falsehood spread for the murder of Vijaya Raghu in January 2020, where the police clarified that the motive behind the murder was the previous enmity.[25]

On 22 October 2017, Actor Vishal, president of the Tamil Film Producers Council, strongly criticised Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national secretary H. Raja for conceding that he had watched parts of actor Vijay’s latest release Mersal online. Mr. Raja had told a Tamil private television channel that he had watched online a few scenes of the movie "which people said, had content which had hurt their sentiments." [27]

On 10 December 2017, Venkaiah Naidu, Vice President of India condemned H.Raja when the latter asked communist leader D.Raja to shoot his own daughter as she participated in JNU protests.[28]

On March 6, 2018, A remark was posted from the verified Facebook page of BJP National Secretary H. Raja, stating, "Who is Lenin? What is his connection to India? What is the connection of communists to India?" Lenin's statue was destroyed in Tripura. Today Lenin's statue, tomorrow Tamil Nadu's EVR Ramaswami's statue. As soon as the DMK opposed the comment, H. Raja distanced himself from the Facebook post and said that the page was maintained by various administrators. The post was soon deleted.[29]

On October 22, 2018, BJP Leader H Raja apologised to Madras High Court after he was caught on camera abusing the police and the judiciary with derogatory words.[30] Initially, he claimed the video was fake and later he said that it happened in a fit of rage before appearing against the judges of the Madras high court.[31]

H. Raja is known for his rhetoric against political opponents.[32][17] He used to call them as anti-Indians.[33] On March 2017, he called journalists who asked questions on central government's policy as anti-Indians.[34]

On September 17, 2019 H Raja announced his party would trouble the schools run by DMK leaders if opposition parties resorted to protest against ‘Hindi imposition’. Raja told this to media during his trip to Sirkazhi.[35]

Railway board

Raja is the chairman of Passenger Amenities Committee[36] which addresses the grievances of the passengers and ensures cleanliness, hygiene and safety of the passengers. This committee approved the printing of passenger train tickets in regional languages such as Tamil, Telugu, Gujarati or Odia.[37]

Elections

Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly Elections

H. Raja had represented as MLA of Karaikudi in the Tamil Nadu Assembly from 2001 to 2006.[38]

Year Party Constituency Result Votes gained Vote %
2001 Bharatiya Janata Party Karaikudi Won 54,093 48.40%
2006 Bharatiya Janata Party Alandur 4th place 9,298 3.27%[39]
2016 Bharatiya Janata Party  Thyagaraya Nagar 3rd place 19,888 14.01%[40]

Indian general elections (Lok Sabha)

H. Raja electoral performances in the Indian general elections (Lok Sabha).[41]

Year Election Party PC Name Result Votes gained Vote %
1999 13th Lok Sabha Bharatiya Janata Party  Sivaganga Runner 2,22,267 36.34%
2014 16th Lok Sabha Bharatiya Janata Party  Sivaganga 3rd place 1,33,763 13.02%
2019 17th Lok Sabha Bharatiya Janata Party  Sivaganga 2nd place 2,33,860 21.56%

Scouts and Guides Elections 2017

H.Raja contested in Bharat Scouts and Guides (Tamil Nadu) in 2017 for the post of president and managed to secure only 52 of the 286 votes polled (18.18%) and lost against P.Mani who got 234 votes (81.82%). However Raja refused to accept his defeat and said the election has to be countermanded.[42]

References
  1. "Raja assures more passenger amenities". The Hindu. 29 September 2017. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
  2. Staff (7 March 2018). "ஹரிஹர ராஜா ஷர்மா என்கிற எச்ச ராஜா பற்றி பலரும் அறியாத உண்மைகள்!". Tamil Boldsky (in Tamil). Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  3. "Nithyananda Peetham, Bengaluru Aadheenam | Nithya Satsang with With H Raja, Sri Gnanaprakashaswamigal and Honoured Dignitaries". www.nithyananda.org. 27 March 2018. Archived from the original on 31 March 2018. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  4. "Mentions his date of birth here at 7:26 ". YouTube. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
  5. Bureau, Madurai (22 March 2014). "Profile of BJP candidates". The Hindu. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
  6. "Sanskrit has scope to tap treasure of knowledge: Banwarilal Purohit". Deccan Chronicle. 24 January 2018. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  7. Mayilvaganan, V. (27 January 2020). "Rajinikanth's spiritual politics will not eat into our vote base: BJP". The Times of India. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  8. "H Raja is the best BJP can offer to TN, and that's why the party will continue to fail". The news minute. 9 March 2018. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  9. World, Republic. "BJP leader H Raja justifies police action on protesters resorting to violence". Republic World. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  10. "Tracing the rise of H Raja: BJP's firebrand leader from Tamil Nadu, in news for targeting Periyar". The Financial Express. 8 March 2018. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  11. http://www.puthiyathalaimurai.com/newsview/82198/The-list-of-national-executives-released-by-the-BJP-No-one-from-Tamil-Nadu-has-a-place
  12. "Rise of H Raja Sharma: Leader who is not afraid of stoking fire". The Indian Express. 8 March 2018. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  13. Saju, M. T. (24 January 2018). "Governor releases Tamil-Sanskrit lexicon with 45,000 words". The Times of India. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  14. Tracing the rise of H Raja: BJP’s firebrand leader from Tamil Nadu, in news for targeting Periyar
  15. Yamunan, Sruthisagar (23 September 2015). "H. Raja to head BJP's manifesto panel". The Hindu. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
  16. "Lok Sabha Election result 2019: Congress' Karti Chidambaram takes a lead in Tamil Nadu's Sivaganga; BJP's H Raja trails". www.businesstoday.in. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
  17. "Mersal row: BJP leader H Raja steps up attack on 'Joseph' Vijay, makes his voter ID card public". Indianexpress.com. 23 October 2017. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
  18. "HC wants to know if Raja underwent psychiatry analysis - Tamil News". IndiaGlitz.com. 23 March 2018. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  19. "ஹெச்.ராஜாவை மனநல பரிசோதனைக்கு அனுப்ப கோரும் வழக்கு - உயர்நீதிமன்றம் நோட்டீஸ்". News18 Tamil. 22 March 2018. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  20. S, Mohamed Imranullah (3 December 2014). "Police file case against BJP's H. Raja". The Hindu – via www.thehindu.com.
  21. "HC directs city police to register FIR against H Raja".
  22. "'Mersal Actor Vijay Is Christian So He Hates PM Modi,' Says BJP Leader H Raja". NDTV.com. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  23. "BJP leader H Raja gives communal twist to Mersal fracas". 24 October 2017.
  24. "எச்.ராஜாவிற்கு எதிராக ஒன்னு சேர்ந்த திமுக, அதிமுக! அதிருப்தியான எச்.ராஜா!". nakkheeran. Retrieved 6 September 2019.
  25. Radhakrishnan, R. K. "A new low in Tamil Nadu BJP leader H. Raja's communal bigotry". Frontline. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  26. "Do not attribute religious motives: Tamil Nadu police on murder of youth". Deccan Herald. 2 September 2020. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  27. "Vijay's 'Mersal' row: Vishal asks BJP leader H Raja how he could watch pirated version of movie".
  28. "Venkaiah slams TN BJP leader's comments on Raja's daughter". Timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
  29. "After Lenin statue razed in Tripura, TN BJP members warn Periyar is next". 6 March 2018.
  30. Vasudevan, Lokpria. "Spoke in a fit of rage: BJP's H Raja says sorry for derogatory remarks on court". India Today.
  31. https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/bjp-leader-h-raja-apologises-to-madras-high-court-for-derogatory-remarks-says-spoke-in-a-fit-of-rage-1935481
  32. "If he's a patriot, D Raja should demand communists to shoot, kill his daughter: BJP's H Raja". Indianexpress.com. 22 February 2016. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
  33. "Whoever works on Tipu Sultan movie is anti-Indian". Rediff.com. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
  34. Puthiya Thalaimurai TV (29 March 2017). "VISUALS - BJP H Raja Slams Media Reporter as "Anti-National"". YouTube. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
  35. "H Raja threatens anti-DMK stir". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  36. "Railway Board Order" (PDF). Indianrailways.gov.in. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
  37. "Railway tickets in Tamil from Pongal". Timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
  38. "Statistical Report on General Election, 2001 to the Legislative Assembly of Taamil Nadu" (PDF). Eci.nic.in. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
  39. "Alandur Assembly Election 2006, Tamil Nadu". Empoweringindia.org. Archived from the original on 15 November 2017. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
  40. "Tamil Nadu General Legislative Election 2016" (PDF). Eci.nic.in. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 February 2017. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
  41. Sivaganga, Special Correspondent (24 May 2019). "H. Raja suffers yet another defeat". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
  42. Edmond, Deepu Sebastian (16 September 2017). "BJP's Raja loses bid to head Scouts and Guides". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
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