Firebrand BJP leader Sangeet Som - accused of stoking passions during the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots and more recently after the lynching of a Muslim man over rumours of beef consumption in Dadri - on Sunday denied reports that his party has told him to 'keep his mouth shut' .

The Sardhana (Meerut) MLA said he would continue his style of campaigning, which has an over-riding gau-raksha rhetoric, in the ongoing panchayat elections in Uttar Pradesh.

"It was a routine meeting [with BJP chief Amit Shah] about the polls and my constituency. My party fully backs me. Tomorrow, I would be canvassing in Meerut. The day after I will be in Muzaffarnagar [where 63 people died in Hindu-Muslim riots two years ago], followed by Bulandshahar," Som said.

This comes amid reports that Shah on Sunday summoned and reprimanded several top party leaders for making controversial comments resulting in a perceptible climate of religious intolerance, prompting writers to go on an award-returning spree.

Development

Shah's meeting with Som, Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar, Union minister MP Sanjeev Balyan, and Unnao MP Sakshi Maharaj was seen in the context of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's extreme displeasure over their comments - seen to be overshadowing NDA's development agenda.

"There was no summon. It was a routine meeting. I had sought an appointment 10 days back. Yesterday I got a call. In any case, I meet the party leadership once or twice a month," Som said. He also denied suggestions that BJP wanted to clip his wings. "It's a worker-based party. It makes workers toil and reward them," he said.

"I met the party chief separately. He wanted to know about my constituency. There was no collective class taken. I bumped into Balyan-ji outside," he said.

In his campaign, also in on-the-boil western UP cities such as Baghpat and Moradabad, the 43-year-old has been calling himself a 'passionate gau rakshak', swearing not to spare those slaughtering the 'mother-like holy animal.' On Saturday, he campaigned in Ghaziabad with 'the same gusto.'

The cow has become a political tool in UP - particularly in its western pockets still living in the shadow of Muzaffarnagar riots - ahead of the state elections in 2017.

Also read:BJP takes its hate-mongers to task, summons leaders over beef remarks



Refuting reports that he was a director in a 'halal' meat exporting company, Som said he would 'resign from life' if allegations were proved, blaming UP minister Azam Khan 'behind the conspiracy', accusing him of 'harbouring terror activities. "When needed I will make public the evidence," the BJP leader said.

In 2005, long before I entered politics, I was director in the firm that was to deal in more than 130 food items. I was against meat packaging. I resigned in 2008 and transferred my shares. It was only a piece of land. Construction started in 2012, three and a half years after I severed all ties," he said, adding, "I can do anything but hurt the sentiments of my people."

"Khan says I want to get him killed. I don't know what he wants to prove by resorting to such lies. He is a cabinet minister and the de facto ruler of Uttar Pradesh. If he cannot defend himself, how will he be able to protect the people of the state," Som said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday described the Dadri lynching as saddening. Shah also said Som should not have gone to the UP town.

"I'm all for action against those who are involved in the murder. All I'm saying is that innocent people should not be framed and tortured. I would continue to raise my voice against the ruling Samajwadi Party's communal politics in UP, but in a peaceful manner," Som said.

Cow slaughter is illegal in almost all states except Kerala, West Bengal and most parts of the Northeast. But rightwing vigilante protectors fear cow meat is sneaking into India's buffalo meat export - a trade involving thousands, mainly Muslims.