Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Mukesh Siddarth, currently in custody, faces the prospect of being charged under the National Security Act (NSA) by the Meerut police in Uttar Pradesh. The move is in response to Siddarth’s alleged inflammatory remarks against State Minister Somendra Tomar, Meerut District Magistrate (DM), and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP). Siddarth purportedly made threats to immolate Tomar and accused the police of inaction.
Meerut SSP Rohit Singh Sajwan stated, “We have prepared a file against Siddarth, and it will be sent to the government for NSA approval today. His statements aimed at disturbing the peace of the town and his threat to burn the Minister of State (MoS) alive are cited as grounds for invoking the NSA.”
The controversy originated from a protest on January 6, addressing the perceived police inaction regarding the assault on two Opposition-supported Dalit councillors during a Meerut Municipal Corporation (MMC) board meeting on December 30. Tomar and BJP Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) Dharmendra Bhardwaj were implicated in the FIR filed on December 30.
Siddarth, the former vice-chairman of the Uttar Pradesh Scheduled Caste/Tribe Finance Corporation, allegedly vowed to set Tomar ablaze, burn his residence and official vehicle if prompt action was not taken against him. He also criticized the Meerut SSP and DM for being unresponsive to the matter.
During the demonstration, Siddarth proclaimed, “Aaj ka pradarshan ek chingari hai jo jaldi jwalamukhi ban jayega agar mantri giraftaar nahi hua (The demonstration today is just an ember that will soon turn into a volcano if the minister is not arrested soon).” A video of this statement circulated on social media, leading to an FIR at the Civil Lines police station on January 7. Siddarth was subsequently apprehended in New Delhi.
While the assaulted councillors and BJP leaders, including Tomar and Bhardwaj, have reconciled, the Meerut police are reportedly reexamining old cases against Siddarth. “There are 13 criminal cases pending at different police stations in Meerut. We are investigating all of them,” stated a police officer.
