The BJP has refuted the allegations that its Bengal unit leader Suvendu Adhikari and other party workers used the “Khalistani” slur against a Sikh IPS officer during a confrontation between BJP workers and police near violence-hit Sandeshkhali.
The saffron party’s response came hours after BJP’s leader of opposition in the West Bengal assembly Suvendu Adhikari dared the police to prove their allegations and police vowed strict action against the leader.
South Bengal Additional Director General of Police (ADG) Supratim Sarkar alleged that the BJP leader made the ‘Khalistani’ remark against the police officer. He said, “We will take strict action. This is just unacceptable.”
Taking to microblogging site X (formerly Twitter) the BJP accused the officer, Jaspeet Singh, of violating the Calcutta High Court order that allowed Adhikari to visit Sandeshkhali. The state BJP alleged that Bengal Police was “more interested in being a political player than policing”. Mr Adhikari alleged that the ruling Trinamool Congress cooked up the issue to divert attention from Sandeshkhali.
“It is a shame that the WB Police is willing to be a political pawn in the hands of Mamata Banerjee and is dragging in religion. Here is a video and images to remind how disrespectful WB Police has been towards the Sikhs. You have pulled off turbans and dragged Sikh protestors on the streets, for taking on Mamata Banerjee’s decrepit administration. So don’t lecture us,” it mentioned.
PUNJAB CM CONDEMNS ROW
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann condemned the incident. Taking to X, he said, “It is highly condemnable for a BJP leader to call a Sikh IPS officer of Bengal a traitor. Perhaps BJP does not know that till date, Punjabis have made maximum sacrifice in liberating the country and maintaining its independence. BJP should apologise to Punjabis,” he said.
AAP leader and Delhi minister Gopal Rai said, “The way BJP leaders humiliated an IPS officer on duty in West Bengal by calling him ‘Khalistani’ is not acceptable. In the entire country, whoever believes in the unity of the country also believes that to strengthen this country no one should be humiliated on caste, religion, region or linguistic ground. The way the BJP leader publicly humiliated him (IPS officer) shows how hate is rooted in them. They (BJP leaders) are issuing certificates to everyone and have crossed all the boundaries of the constitution. AAP condemns this act in strong words and we ask the BJP to issue a public apology.”
WHAT IS THE ‘KHALISTANI’ SLUR ROW
A Sikh IPS officer, who was deputed to prevent senior West Bengal BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari from visiting restive Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas district, on Tuesday slammed saffron party activists for allegedly dubbing him as a ‘Khalistani’. This triggered a war of words between TMC and BJP leaders.
The BJP, however, denied the charge and accused the police officer of not performing his duty as per the Constitution.
Later, 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. They also protested in Asansol.
According to sources, the TMC will hold protests in the state over the issue on Thursday.
Adhikar reached the Sandeskhali block in the afternoon, after being granted permission by a division bench of the Calcutta High Court to visit the trouble-torn area.
Sandeshkhali has been witnessing protests after local women accused absconding Trinamool Congress leader Shajahan Sheikh and his supporters of “sexually assaulting” them under coercion.
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