Sangeet Som, `saviour` of cows, is director of meat processing unit?

Meerut: Bharatiya Janata Party's Uttar Pradesh legislator Sangeet Som, who was in news recently for making provocative statements in the aftermath of the Dadri lynching, reportedly bought land for a meat processing unit in Aligarh in 2009.

As per registry documents accessed by Hindustan Times, the BJP legislator from Sardhana is one of the directors of Al Dua Food Processing Private Limited along with Moinuddin Qureshi and Yogesh Rawat.

Som has acknowledged purchasing the land a few years ago but claimed that he did not know he was appointed as a director of the company.

“I purchased the land which was sold to Al Dua Food Processing Private Limited after a few months,” he said. He, however, added that buying the land did not mean he was involved in establishing the meat factory.

“I am a Hindu hardliner hence there is no chance of getting involved in activities which are against my religion,” said Som, adding he would quit politics if his role in the factory was proved.

Sangeet Som, one of the accused in the Muzaffarnagar riots, had earlier said that those who slaughter cows in Uttar Pradesh should be dealt with strictly.

On September 28, Akhlaq, a resident of Bisara village of Dadri in Greater Noida near Delhi, was dragged out of his home and lynched following rumours that he ate beef. His family denied the allegations.

Akhlaq's 21-year-old son Danish was also left critically injured. He is recuperating in hospital.