Watch: UP MLA Raja Bhaiyya worships 500+ guns on Dusshera
Kunda MLA Raghuraj Pratap Singh, also known as Raja Bhaiyya, performed a traditional 'Shastra Puja' (weapon worship) on Dussehra, displaying over 500 licensed weapons at his Benti Palace in Pratapgarh. The event, attended by his twin sons and hundreds of supporters, highlighted a long-standing family tradition and comes amidst past allegations of illegal weapons by his wife.
Why it matters
This event showcases a controversial tradition of a prominent politician, raising questions about gun culture, political influence, and adherence to legal norms, especially given previous allegations against him. It also touches on cultural heritage and its interpretation in modern society.
PRAYAGRAJ: “An elephant has different tusks for display and eating,” Kunda MLA and Jansatta Dal (Loktantrik) president Raghuraj Pratap Singh, alias Raja Bhaiya, remarked on Tuesday as he worshipped a collection of more than 500 weapons at his Benti Palace in Pratapgarh on Dussehra.The display once again brought the politician’s long-standing tradition of Shastra Puja into the spotlight.Raja Bhaiya, clad in a dhoti-kurta and saffron turban, performed the ritual from around 1 pm to 3 pm amid Vedic chants.His twin sons, Shivraj and Brijraj, joined him, while block chiefs, the district panchayat president’s representative and hundreds of supporters also participated, carrying their own weapons.Licences and identification slips were placed alongside the weapons, according to the organisers.Addressing those present, Singh said Shastra Puja on Vijayadashami had been a tradition since ancient times and that everyone attending the ceremony was part of his “family”.He said they were committed to protecting the country…
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