Several political leaders have questioned the NDA government's move to provide Z+ security cover to BJP MLA Sangeet Som, who is an accused in the Muzzafarnagar riots case.
Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari said, "This is very uncanny about this government that the people who actually suffered in the riots do not have a shelter above their heads, and those who are supposed to be responsible for these riots, are being provided Z+ security. What can be more painful than this for the sufferers of the riots".
Another Congress leader Rashid Alvi said, "See, I am surprised at how a person against whom there is an FIR for communal violence is provided with Z+ security. Those who are the reason for the riots are being provided security and those who are the victims are without shelter. I condemn this."
Tariq Anwar of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) said, "How can a person who plays with the feelings of a community, and thereby, creates communal tension, be provided with Z+ security. This kind of thing can only happen during the rule of the BJP."
The Samajwadi Party also said that the decision to provide security to a riot accused is ‘unfortunate’
Ministry of Home Affairs sources told ANI that Som has been given Z category security by the Central Reserve Police Force only within Uttar Pradesh. BJP’s spokesperson Shah Nawaz Hussain defended the government’s decision, saying security is given after analyzing the threat perception against a particular person.
Som is the BJP MLA from Sardhana in Meerut, and is an accused in the Muzzafarnagar riots case. He was jailed after he was booked under the National Security Act for allegedly circulating a fake video on social media that fuelled tension before the riots. Som was also accused of giving communally-charged speeches.
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