“On one hand, Hindus are being killed in Bangladesh and however, cricketers are being purchased within the IPL. The traitor movie actor Shah Rukh Khan has purchased Bangladeshi cricketer Rahman for Rs 9 crore. Such traitors haven’t any proper to dwell on this nation,” Som stated Wednesday at a public occasion in Meerut.

Later, KKR launched Rahman with out enjoying a single match in IPL 2026 after directive from the Board of Management for Cricket in India (BCCI).

The 2-time BJP MLA has a controversial background. He was one of many accused within the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots, in addition to identified for his statements towards the Muslims.  

He additionally grabbed eyeballs in the course of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections for supporting the Rajputs in western Uttar Pradesh, a transfer that’s believed to have contributed to the BJP’s defeat in key seats similar to Muzaffarnagar, Kairana, and Saharanpur.

Born in an prosperous Rajput household in Meerut’s Alamgir village, Sangeet Som was MLA of  Sardhana constituency from 2012 to 2022. In 2022, he was defeated by Samajwadi Get together candidate Atul Pradhan.

Som has been honoured by a number of Hindu non secular teams with titles similar to ‘Hindu Hriday Samrat’ and ‘Mahathakur Sangharshveer’. 

He was booked for his alleged function within the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots and was additionally detained beneath the Nationwide Safety Act in September that 12 months. A report by the Justice Vishnu Sahai Fee named him among the many key people accused of instigating the riots. 

In September 2015, he accused the Samajwadi Get together authorities of non secular bias whereas probing the Janmashtami clashes. In January 2017, Som was booked for allegedly violating the Mannequin Code of Conduct throughout his election marketing campaign by screening a documentary that had riot-related video clips. He, nonetheless, received a clear chit later.

That 12 months Som’s face was throughout tv information channels after he described the Taj Mahal as a “blot on Indian tradition and historical past”, a comment that got here after the Uttar Pradesh authorities eliminated the monument from its tourism booklet.

The BJP chief mockingly combined up Mughal emperor Shah Jahan with Aurangzeb when he stated that the monument was constructed by a ruler who imprisoned his father. 

Muzaffarnagar was once more in information in November 2018, when Som demanded that it’s renamed Lakshminagar. His justification at the moment was that the current identify was given by a nawab, Muzaffar Ali. 

“Mughals throughout their rule have eradicated Indian tradition. Hindutva was their most important goal. The BJP is making an attempt to safeguard our tradition,” he had stated.

A vocal anti-beef campaigner, Som was left red-faced in 2015 after a report in The Hindu talked about that he co-founded Al Dua, a halal meat export firm, in 2005-06 and was related to it until round 2008 as director.

It isn’t simply the Hindutva pet themes similar to masjid (mosque), Muslims and beef that deliver the controversial facet of the BJP chief. A working example being his defence of India-made Covid vaccine in 2021. “Those that don’t belief Indian vaccines can go to a different nation. Such individuals don’t should be right here,” he stated.

In June 2025, throughout a Muzaffarnagar occasion organised by the United Hindu Entrance, Som focused Samajwadi Get together chief Akhilesh Yadav, describing him as a descendant of a Mughal ruler. He additionally commented on the burqa worn by Muslim girls, alleging that terrorism and fraud are being carried out within the nation beneath its cowl.

Twice, in 2019 and 2025, Som urged the Election Fee to curb what he termed fraudulent voting carried out beneath the usage of burqa. Girls, he stated, must be allowed to vote solely after their faces are clearly verified.

Som additionally got here into the highlight when his relationship with former Muzzaffarnagar MP Sanjeev Balyan deteriorated badly. A lot in order that Balyan alleged that Som “sabotaged” his re-election bid in 2024 by “supporting” the rival candidate from the Samajwadi Get together.

Balyan, a Jat, had stated that the environment in western UP was spoiled by means of panchayats by the Rajput neighborhood and that Som had facilitated these panchayats.

The theme performed out once more in August final 12 months when Balyan misplaced to BJP colleague Rajiv Pratap Rudy within the election to the submit of secretary (administration) at Delhi’s Structure Membership. Later, Som overtly admitted that he had campaigned extensively in Rudy’s favour.

“The occasion is conscious of Som’s statements and previous controversies, however for one part of the occasion he’s thought of an asset in western UP,” a senior BJP functionary in Uttar Pradesh informed ThePrint. 

“He has by no means spoken towards the central or state management. He has an area workforce that focuses on sharpening the Hindutva agenda. So leaders like him are generally seen as belongings, though they’re usually within the information for unfavorable causes,” the BJP functionary added. 

(Edited by Tony Rai)