Chief minister Mamata Banerjee and her party tore into the BJP on Tuesday over allegations that some BJP leaders who were accompanying Suvendu Adhikari to Sandeshkhali had called a turban-clad IPS officer a “Khalistani”.
The chief minister posted a video clip on X that showed Jaspreet Singh, an Intelligence Branch special superintendent, vehemently protesting the alleged comment directed at him.
The Trinamul Congress demanded an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Representatives of the Sikh community, including the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee, Amritsar, condemned the incident, prompting the BJP to go into damage-control mode by issuing denials and professing respect for Sikhism.
In the video clip posted by Mamata, Singh is seen objecting to the comments directed at him while the BJP’s Agnimitra Paul kept yelling back at him, telling him to do his duty as a cop.
“Today, the BJP’s divisive politics has shamelessly overstepped constitutional boundaries. As per @BJP4India every person wearing a TURBAN is a KHALISTANI,” Mamata wrote.
“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,” Mamata added.
In the clip, Singh can be heard saying: “You’re saying I’m a Khalistani?! I will take action on this!”
“Because I am wearing a turban, are you saying this? Had I not been wearing a turban, would you have called me a Khalistani? If you have got something to say against me as a policeman, say that. You cannot speak against my religion,” he added, as Paul kept shouting at him.
“You don’t carry out the duties of a policeman! Do that!” Paul said repeatedly. Singh replied: “I am not speaking against your religion. You cannot speak against mine.”
As Paul kept claiming that nobody had insulted his religion, the IPS officer said: “Why did you say Khalistani?! That person did….”
While Singh tried to walk away, persuaded by his colleagues, Paul kept yelling at him, accusing him of grovelling before the ruling dispensation, prompting him to respond once again.
“Nobody is making any comments on religion, only you are making (them). Because I am wearing a turban, you will call me a Khalistani?! This is your courage? If a cop is seen wearing a turban, he is a Khalistani? Is this your level? Because a police officer is doing his duty in a turban?” asked a visibly outraged Singh.
Protests by the Sikh community broke out in various parts of Bengal against the remark.
The police issued a statement, expressing solidarity with Singh. “This comment is as much malicious and racial as it is communally inciting," said the statement.
Adhikari said neither he nor his associates ever attacked any religion. "We pay respects to Guru Nanak. We honour the Sikh faith," he added.
