A Sikh IPS officer, wearing a turban and deputed in Sandeshkhali to prevent Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Suvendu Adhikari from visiting the island, on Tuesday criticised leaders of the saffron party for allegedly calling him a ‘Khalistani’.
“Just because I am wearing a turban, you people are calling me a Khalistani? Is this that you have learnt? If a police officer wears a turban and performs his duty honestly, he becomes a Khalistani for you? Shame on you,” IPS officer Jaspreet Singh was heard saying to the BJP workers. The officer added that he was only trying to do his job. “Did I say anything about your religion? Why are you speaking about my religion?” he said.
Mr. Adhikari was prevented by the police from visiting the island but later, upon the intervention of the Calcutta High Court, was allowed to visit the area.
The development evoked strong reactions from Trinamool Congress leadership, including Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. “Today, the BJP’s divisive politics has shamelessly overstepped constitutional boundaries. As per@BJP4India every person wearing a TURBAN is a KHALISTANI. I VEHEMENTLY CONDEMN this audacious attempt to undermine the reputation of our SIKH BROTHERS & SISTERS, revered for their SACRIFICES and UNWAVERING DETERMINATION to our nation,” Ms. Banerjee said on social media.
The Chief Minister added that she stood firm in “protecting Bengal’s social harmony and will take stern lawful measures to prevent any attempts to disrupt it”.
The Congress leadership, including party president Mallikararjun Kharge and senior leader Rahul Gandhi, expressed concern over the alleged remarks directed at the Sikh IPS officer. “BJP-RSS have only worked to spread poison in the society in the name of religion in this country. The sting of religious fanaticism spread by the BJP is poisoning our diverse culture to such an extent that protectors of the law are being branded terrorists in the name of religion. Is ‘Sabka Saath’ (a reference to the BJP’s vision) now meant to tear down the Constitution made by Babasaheb Ambedkar?” Mr. Kharge said.
The Congress president, while addressing Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “Your only objective is to spread disharmony, hatred and violence between religions, sects and communities. Your rule is the ‘Amrit Kaal’ of divisive politics”.
However, BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul, who was accompanying Mr. Adhikari, claimed that nobody had called the officer “Khalistani”.
“No one called anyone a Khalistani. If Mamata Banerjee has any proof, let her put out the video. WB Police is nothing but a stooge of the TMC. The issue here is women of #Sandeshkhali. Their rape and torture. Their tormentor Shahjahan Sheikh is still at large and continues to enjoy the patronage of Mamata Banerjee. She should stop trying to distract from #Sandeshkhali and arrest Shahjahan Sheikh immediately. Let WB Police focus on policing and not politics.,” Ms. Paul said.
Meanwhile, West Bengal Police also took to social media and expressed its outrage on “where one of our own officers was called ‘Khalistani’ by the state’s Leader of the Opposition“.
“This comment is as much malicious and racial as it is communally inciting. It is a criminal act. We unequivocally condemn the unprovoked, unacceptable attack on an individual’s religious identity and beliefs aimed to incite people to take to violence and break the law. Stern legal action is being initiated,” the State’s police said on social media.
Additional Director General and Inspector General of Police (South Bengal) Supratim Sarkar, quoting Article 295A of the Indian Penal Code, said that the remarks by the Leader of the Opposition amounted to “deliberate and malicious act to outrage the religious feeling of class by insulting customs and practice”.
Later in the day, members of the Sikh community staged a demonstration outside the BJP’s State headquarters at Muralidhar Lane in Kolkata in protest against the alleged ‘Khalistani’ jibe.
