File pic: BJP legislator Sangeet Som
BJP's riot-accused lawmaker Sangeet Som has been given special 'Z category' cover by the union home ministry, which says threats to his life justify top level security.
Mr Som was accused by the police in Uttar Pradesh of making inflammatory speeches and uploading a fake video that was one of the triggers of the riots last year in Muzaffarnagar, which left at least 60 dead and 40,000 displaced.
He has now been assigned bulletproof cars and around 30 security guards.
The UP government says Mr Som had been given the lower 'Y' level cover ordered by a court based on his complaint that a rival candidate had threatened him. His security was upgraded by the Centre, the state government said.
Home ministry officials say extra security cover was given to Mr Som "purely on merit" and not after any political intervention. Intelligence agencies, they claim, have intercepted phone conversations that indicate threats to the controversial politician's life.
The move has been questioned by political parties.
"It is very surprising and this government is very unique that the victims of riots are roaming homeless here and there and those who are responsible for riots are being provided Z security," said Congress leader Manish Tewari.
Nationalist Congress Party leader Tariq Anwar added, "A man who is a rioter himself has been given such security. The BJP government is responsible for that."
Mr Som was arrested after the riots last September and released in November to a grand welcome by his supporters. Days later, he was felicitated at a BJP rally shortly before Narendra Modi arrived to make his campaign speech.
The BJP has maintained that its leaders were falsely accused by the state's Samajwadi Party government.