A controversy broke out on Tuesday over BJP's move to "felicitate" its MLAs Sangeet Som and Suresh Rana, accused of inciting communal violence in Muzaffarnagar, at Narendra Modi's rally in Agra on Thursday.

Congress has deplored BJP's decision claiming it will create a "hate situation" while the ruling Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh said it reflected the saffron party's culture.