Raghuraj Pratap Singh

2022-01-13T09:39:54Z

2409:4063:6C91:17FD:0:0:E98A:C309: /* Office held */

{{short description|Indian politician}}
{{redirect|Raja Bhaiya|the 2003 Indian film|Raja Bhaiya (film)}}
{{EngvarB|date=October 2019}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Raghuraj Pratap Singh
| image = Raghuraj Pratap Singhji.jpg
| image_size =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1969|10|31}}
| birth_place = [[Kolkata]], [[West Bengal]], [[India]]
| residence = [[Kunda, India|Kunda]], [[Pratapgarh district, Uttar Pradesh|Pratapgarh]], [[Uttar Pradesh]]<ref name=Expressreport>Ramendra Singh (9 March 2013). [http://www.indianexpress.com/news/the-rajas-backyard/1085725/0 "The Raja's Backyard"]. ''[[The Indian Express]]''. Retrieved 11 March 2013.</ref>
| death_date =
| death_place =
| nickname = Raja Bhaiya
| office1 = [[Member of Legislative Assembly|MLA]]
| constituency1 = [[Kunda (Assembly constituency)|Kunda]]
| term_start1 = 1993
| predecessor1 = Shiv Narain Mishra
| successor1 =
| office2 = Minister of Food and Civil Supplies Department
| term2 = 2004–2007, 2012–2017
| predecessor2 =
| successor2 =
| office3 = [[Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (India)|Minister of Sports and Youth Welfare]]
| term3 = 1999
–2000
| successor3 =
| office4 = [[Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation|Minister of Programme Implementation]]
| term4 = 1997–1999
| successor4 =
| party = [[Jansatta Dal Loktantrik]] (2018–present)
| otherparty = Independent (1993–2018)
| alma_mater = [[University of Lucknow]] (1989)
| profession = Agriculturalist
| spouse = {{Marriage|Bhanvi Kumari|15 February 1995}}
| children = 4
| website =
| signature =
| signature_alt =
| footnotes =
| date = 25 April|
| year = 2015|
}}

'''Raghuraj Pratap Singh''' (born 31 October 1969), popularly known as '''Raja Bhaiya''', is an Indian politician. He is an independent [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|M.L.A.]] from his native local assembly constituency [[Kunda (Assembly constituency) |Kunda]], Uttar Pradesh.

On 16 November 2018, Singh announced he was forming his own party, the [[Jansatta Dal Loktantrik]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Uttar Pradesh: Kunda MLA Raja Bhaiyya announces new party, likely to field candidates in 2019 |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2018/nov/16/uttar-pradesh-kunda-mla-raja-bhaiyya-announces-new-party-likely-to-field-candidates-in-2019-1899085.html |access-date=25 November 2019 |work=The New Indian Express |date=16 November 2018}}</ref>

==Early life and education==
Singh was born on 31 October 1969 in [[Kolkata]], [[West Bengal]] in a [[Rajput]] family.<ref name=ProfileH>{{cite web |title=Members of Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly |url=http://uplegisassembly.gov.in/Members/main_members_en.aspx#/Data/12244/17 |website=uplegisassembly.gov.in |access-date=18 August 2020|lang=hi}}</ref><ref name="ProfileE">{{cite web |title=Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly (UPLA): Member info |url=http://www.upvidhansabhaproceedings.gov.in/member?memberId=19797 |website=www.upvidhansabhaproceedings.gov.in |access-date=18 August 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.news18.com/news/politics/who-is-raja-bhaiya-1304359.html|title = Who is Raja Bhaiya?|date = 23 October 2016}}</ref> His father is Raja Uday Pratap Singh and hails from the royal [[Bhadri (estate)]] of [[Oudh]]. His grandfather [[Raja Bajrang Bahadur Singh]] was the founder vice-chancellor of [[G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology|Pant Nagar Agriculture University]] and later the second governor of [[Himachal Pradesh]] state.<ref name=Expressreport/> Raghuraj was the first in his family to enter politics; his father is largely a recluse. His grand father had adopted his nephew [[Raja Uday Pratap Singh]] as his son.<ref name=Expressreport/>

Singh graduated from [[University of Lucknow]] in 1989.<ref name="MyNeta">{{cite web |title=Raghuraj Pratap Singh(Independent(IND)):Constituency- KUNDA(PRATAPGARH) - Affidavit Information of Candidate |url=http://myneta.info/uttarpradesh2017/candidate.php?candidate_id=3317 |website=myneta.info |access-date=20 November 2020}}</ref> He married Bhanvi Kumari Singh on 15 February 1995, with whom he has two sons and two daughters.<ref name=ProfileH/><ref name="ProfileE"/> Singh is an agriculturalist by profession.<ref name="MyNeta"/>

==Notable election results==
===2007 Uttar Pradesh election results===
In the [[2007 Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly election]], he was overwhelmingly elected from [[Kunda (Assembly constituency)|Kunda]] with a margin of nearly half the votes cast<ref name=eci>[[Election Commission of India]]: 2007 Uttar Pradesh state elections, [http://archive.eci.gov.in/May2007/pollupd/ac/states/S24/Aconst98.htm Results, constituency 98] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930084724/http://archive.eci.gov.in/May2007/pollupd/ac/states/S24/Aconst98.htm |date=30 September 2007 }}.</ref> over Shiv Prakash Mishra of the [[Bahujan Samaj Party]]. He had stood as an Independent.

He also wields considerable influence over five assembly constituencies in the Pratapgarh region, as well as some in neighbouring [[Bihar]]. In election rallies in this region where he is present, the actual candidate may never speak or even be mentioned in his speech; "they are all shadows. Raja Bhaiya, alone, is the substance."<ref>{{cite news|title =Election 2002: The secret of Raja Bhaiya's success|author=Prem Panicker |work=[[rediff.com]] |url=http://www.rediff.com/election/2002/feb/20_upr_prem_spe_1.htm|date=20 February 2002|access-date=6 August 2007}}</ref>

After the 2007 elections, when [[Mayawati]] swept to power with a majority, Raghuraj again came under the police radar.

===2017 Uttar Pradesh election results===
In the [[2017 Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|2017 Assembly election]], Raghuraj Pratap Singh defeated his opponent Janki Sharan from the [[Bhartiya Janata Party]] by a huge margin of 103,647 votes & acquired 136,597 votes in total. Singh has consecutively been elected as the representative of Kunda assembly for the 6th time in 2017.

==Controversies and conflict==

=== Jailed under POTA in 2002 ===
In 2002, on an [[First Information Report|FIR]] filed by a dissident [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (BJP) MLA [[Puran Singh Bundela]] of alleged [[kidnapping]] and threatening with dire consequences, got Raghuraj arrested on the orders of then Chief Minister [[Mayawati]] at the early hours about 4:00 a.m. of 2 November 2002. Later Mayawati-led government in Uttar Pradesh declared him a terrorist, and he was sent to jail under [[Prevention of Terrorism Acts|Prevention of Terrorism Act]] (POTA), along with his father Uday Pratap Singh and cousin Akshay Pratap Singh.<ref name="ek">[https://web.archive.org/web/20121019112748/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2007-06-24/lucknow/27973946_1_raja-bhaiyya-gang-raghuraj-pratap-singh The gang of Raja Bhaiyya] Times of India – 24 June 2007</ref> Subsequently, Akshay managed to get bail, but Raghuraj's pleas were rejected many times.<ref name=muscle-power>
{{cite news
| title = Muscle and mafia links still matter in Uttar Pradesh
| author = J.P. Shukla
| work = [[The Hindu]]
| url = http://www.hinduonnet.com/2004/04/15/stories/2004041500781200.htm
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081016095713/http://www.hinduonnet.com/2004/04/15/stories/2004041500781200.htm
| url-status = usurped
| archive-date = 16 October 2008
| date = 15 April 2004
| access-date = 9 August 2007
}}</ref>

===From jail to cabinet minister===
Within 25 minutes<ref name=pota>
{{cite news
| title = Caught in the POTA trap: Uttar Pradesh
| author = George Iype and Ehtasham Khan
| work = [[rediff.com]]
| url = http://in.rediff.com/news/2004/mar/11spec1.htm
| date = 11 March 2004
}}</ref> of the [[Mulayam Singh Yadav]]'s government coming to power in 2003, all POTA charges against him were dropped. However, the Supreme Court debarred the state government from dismissing POTA charges<ref name=pota/>

Eventually the POTA Act was repealed in 2004, and although the court again refused to release Raghuraj,<ref>
{{cite news
| title = Politician held on terror charge
| author = Ram Dutt Tripathi
| publisher = [[BBC News]], Lucknow
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4435840.stm
| date = 14 November 2005
| access-date = 6 August 2007
}}</ref> He subsequently became a powerful man in the government, and was accused by police officer R.S. Pandey (who led the raid on his house) of having launched a vendetta against him.<ref>
{{cite news
| title = Raja Bhaiya cases: DSP being 'victimised'
| author = SC upholds stay on proceedings
| publisher = The Tribune, Chandigarh
| url = http://www.tribuneindia.com/2004/20040828/nation.htm#7
| date = 28 August 2004
| access-date = 6 August 2007
}}</ref> Eventually R.S. Pandey was killed in a road accident,<ref>
{{cite news
| title = Night before HC says yes to his plea for CBI probe, UP cop dies
| publisher = [[The Indian Express]]
| url = http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Night-before-HC-says-yes-to-his-plea-for-CBI-probe-UP-cop-dies/21077/
| date = 17 January 2007
| access-date = 19 June 2011
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121014072702/http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Night-before-HC-says-yes-to-his-plea-for-CBI-probe-UP-cop-dies/21077/
| archive-date = 14 October 2012
| url-status = dead
| df = dmy-all
}}
</ref> which is currently being investigated by the [[Central Bureau of Investigation|CBI]].<ref>http://cities.expressindia.com/local-news/fullstory.php?newsid=252533{{dead link|date=April 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

In 2005, he became the minister for Food and Civil Supplies, and despite his pending criminal cases, he came to be assigned the highest level of security (Z-category) provided by the state,<ref>
{{cite news
| title = Now, Z security for Bhaiyya
| author = Aman Sharma
| publisher = [[Indian Express]]
| url = http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=73090
| date = 22 June 2005
}}</ref> though the threats against him were not specified.

In 2018, he voted for the Bharatiya Janta Party in the Rajya Sabha polls against the BSP candidate Dr. Ambedkar.{{Citation needed|date=December 2021}}

His party contested the Lok Sabha polls alone on two seats of Pratapgarh and Kaushambi.<ref>{{cite news |title=Modi is popular but his MPs will struggle: Independent MLA Raja Bhaiyya |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/elections/news/modi-is-popular-but-his-mps-will-struggle-independent-mla-raja-bhaiyya/articleshow/69209923.cms |access-date=7 May 2019 |work=The Times of India |date=7 May 2019}}</ref>

=== DSP Zia Ul Haque murder case ===
On 3 March 2013, [[Deputy Superintendent of Police]] (DSP) Zia Ul Haq was killed during clashes between villagers and police in [[Kunda, India|Kunda]], Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias Raja Bhaiya's constituency. Following a complaint by the slain officer's wife, Parveen Azad, Pratapgarh police registered a case against Raja Bhaiya for his alleged involvement in the 'conspiracy' which resulted in the gang war and subsequent murder of the police officer. In the FIR, Parveen said that her husband was killed by the henchmen of Raja Bhaiya. She named Gulshan Yadav, chairman of Kunda Nagar Panchayat, Harion Srivastava, a representative of Raja Bhaiya and Guddu Singh, Raja Bhaiya's driver as prime accused. She also named two other villagers – Kamta Prasad Pal and Rajesh Kumar Pal. The police registered a murder case against other accused who were named in the FIR. Further, this case was handed over to elite investigation agency CBI on 07 February 2013 for further investigation.<ref>{{Cite news|title=UP top cop killed in gunbattle following village head's murder|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/dsp-zia-ul-haq-pratapgarh-up-uttar-pradesh-up-top-cop-village-head/1/252399.html|newspaper=[[India Today]]|publisher=15-07-14}}</ref> The CBI registered four different cases in the murder of senior police officer Zia-ul-Haq and two others who were shot dead on Saturday in the constituency of former Uttar Pradesh minister, Raja Bhaiya.

On 1 August 2013, the CBI filed the final report in the CBI court giving a clean chit to Raja Bhaiya.<ref>{{Cite news|title=CBI gives clean chit to Raja Bhaiya in deputy SP murder case|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-08-02/india/41005265_1_nanhe-yadav-gulshan-yadav-cbi-report|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130805192318/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-08-02/india/41005265_1_nanhe-yadav-gulshan-yadav-cbi-report|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 August 2013|date=2 August 2013|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|access-date=25 September 2013}}</ref>

== Office held ==

* MLA, 1993-Incumbent (Kunda, Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh).
* Minister in [[Mulayam Singh Yadav ministry]]
* Minister of Food and Civil Supplies in [[Akhilesh Yadav ministry]] from 2012-14
* Minister in [[Kalyan Singh ministry]]
* Minister in [[Rajnath Singh ministry]]
* Minister in [[Ram Prakash Gupta ministry]]

==Charity and social work==
In November 2019, Singh announced bearing of all the treatment related expenses for a six year old cancer patient named Vidushi.<ref>{{cite news |title=कैंसर से लड़ रही ये मासूम, 3 दिन में मदद को ब दर्जनों हाथ, राजा भैया ने कहा- पूरी हेल्प करूंगा |url=https://hindi.asianetnews.com/uttar-pradesh/many-people-started-to-help-of-6-year-old-cancer-patient-vidushi-q0j6uq |access-date=25 November 2019 |work=Asianet News Network Pvt Ltd |date=6 November 2019 |language=hi}}</ref> Every year since 1993, Singh organises [[collective wedding]] (''saamuhik vivah'') of hundreds of those girls whose family can't afford marriage expenses.<ref>{{cite news |title=हिंदी खबर, Latest News in Hindi, हिंदी समाचार, ताजा खबर |url=https://www.patrika.com/pratapgarh-up-news/raja-bhaiya-will-organise-group-marriage-for-poor-families-on-31-may-in-pratapgarh-news-in-hindi-1589349/ |access-date=10 November 2020 |work=Patrika News |language=hi}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Pratapgarh (Lok Sabha constituency)]]
* [[List of people from Pratapgarh]]
* [[Bhadri (estate)|Bhadri State]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Raghuraj Pratap Singh}}
* {{twitter|raghuraj_bhadri}}
{{Commons category|Raghuraj Pratap Singh}}
* {{facebook|rrpsraja}}

{{Raghuraj Pratap Singh}}
{{Portal bar|Biography|India}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Singh, Raghuraj Pratap}}
[[Category:1969 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Kolkata]]
[[Category:People from Pratapgarh district, Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Prisoners and detainees of India]]
[[Category:Crime in Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Uttar Pradesh MLAs 2017–2022]]
[[Category:Criminals from Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:POTA detainees]]

Bharatpedia - User contributions [en]

Raghuraj Pratap Singh