"If UP Police Treats Former Minister Like This, What About Ordinary BJP Workers?": Sanjeev Balyan Writes To CM Yogi Over Security Withdrawal

Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Sanjeev Balyan asserted on Monday (13 January) that his "Y-category" security was abruptly pulled back by the Uttar Pradesh (UP) Police on Sunday.

Balyan is a former Union Minister of State and won the Lok Sabha election twice from Muzaffarnagar, but lost in 2024. He believes that the unexpected withdrawal of security has put his life at risk.

In his letter to UP Chief Minister (CM) Yogi Adityanath, Balyan recalled that he was attacked during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and hence, if any such attack happens in the future, it would be the responsibility of the state government.

"If the police are behaving in this manner with a former Union Minister, what will be the condition of ordinary workers of BJP?" Balyan said, who now only has a Delhi Police PSO (Personal Security Officer).

He told The Indian Express, "I was on a party programme in Delhi on Sunday and around 4.30 pm, my security personnel got a call from Muzaffarnagar Police to return. They left me immediately. Now I have no UP Police security personnel with me."

He said the security personnel posted at his residence, his police escort and four security personnel, all left immediately after apparently getting a call to return as they said, "We have been asked to return to the police lines, we are leaving."

Muzaffarnagar Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Abhishek Singh, however, said that Balyan “is being provided security as per rules. He is getting the security level he is entitled to.”

As per Balyan, his security withdrawal might have something to do with his protests against the purchase of a dharmshala's land in Khanupur village for a distillery unit in Muzaffarnagar. He claimed that the police were aiding the unit in acquiring the land.

"Muzaffarnagar police officers are annoyed because I sat on a dharna (protest) in support of the villagers against the land deal. That is the main reason behind the withdrawal of my security," Balyan said.