UP govt slaps NSA on BJP legislator

A district court on Tuesday granted bail to two legislators—Noor Salim of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the Suresh Rana of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)—who were arrested on the charge of stoking communal passion in Muzaffarnagar that led to riots.

However, the state government slapped the more stringent National Security Act (NSA) on BJP member Sangeet Som, accused of  uploading a “fake provocative video” on a social networking site and delivering hate speeches.

The Muzaffarnagar district court on Tuesday deferred the hearing on Som’s bail application until Friday. District police had arrested the MLAs for delivering inflammatory speeches and had issued warrants against them.

The legislators have been booked under Sections 153 A (promoting enmity among groups on basis of religion), 353 (provoking with intent to cause riots) and 435 (damage to property) besides some other sections of the IPC.

The police have booked 16 leaders from various political parties.