Controversy Erupts as BJP Workers Accuse Sikh IPS Officer of Being a ‘Khalistani’ in Sandeshkhali
Tensions Rise in West Bengal Amid Allegations of Derogatory Slurs and Religious Identity Attacks
West Bengal , 21 february, 2024, In the violence-stricken region of Sandeshkhali in West Bengal, a fresh controversy arose when Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers purportedly referred to a Sikh IPS officer stationed at Dhamakhali as a ‘Khalistani.’ The officer, Jaspreet Singh, and his team were deployed to prevent the visit of senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari to the tumultuous Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas district.
Adhikari, the Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, was en route to Sandeshkhali amidst allegations of land grab and extortion against local Trinamool leaders. The BJP also accused Trinamool strongman Sheikh Shahjahan’s associates of sexual harassment.
The Bengal BJP criticized state police officers for becoming “doormats” of Trinamool and questioned Officer Singh’s actions, accusing him of violating the court order.
Allegedly, a group of BJP supporters called Officer Jaspreet Singh a “Khalistani” due to his turban. The officer responded, expressing his dismay at being labeled based on his religious identity, emphasizing that he was merely performing his duty.
Responding to Bengal police’s accusation that Adhikari used a Khalistani slur, the BJP denied any derogatory language and accused Officer Singh of seeking undue attention. The BJP shared visuals of Sikh protesters in police custody with their turbans removed, claiming disrespect by the WB Police.
In the midst of the controversy, the Bengal police condemned Adhikari’s alleged use of the Khalistani slur, calling it a criminal act that incites communal tension. A viral video captured the heated exchange between BJP leaders and Officer Singh, who defended his turban-wearing identity.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee condemned the BJP’s divisive politics, while Congress leader Rahul Gandhi criticized the BJP’s “hate politics” poisoning society. The Sikh body Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee’s president, Harjinder Singh Dhami, condemned the intentional character assassination of Officer Singh by BJP leaders, emphasizing Sikhs’ significant sacrifices for the nation’s freedom and protection.
