West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday after a video emerged showing a confrontation between BJP protesters and state police after a Sikh officer was referred to as "Khalistani". The Chief Minister accused the BJP of practicing "divisive politics" and condemned it.
"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," she wrote on X, which used to be known as Twitter.
"We stand firm in protecting Bengal's social harmony and will take stern lawful measures to prevent any attempts to disrupt it," she further said.
According to a PTI report, a Sikh IPS officer who was stationed in Dhamakhali to prevent senior West Bengal BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari from visiting restive Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas district became agitated after a group of saffron party activists allegedly hurled the 'Khalistani' remark at him.
BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul, who was accompanying Adhikari, claimed that the police officer was not carrying out his duties and denied that BJP supporters referred to him as a 'Khalistani', as per the PTI report.
IPS officer Jaspreet Singh, who was stationed at Dhamakhali with his team and had set up barricades to prevent Adhikari from visiting Sandeshkhali, which is just across the Kalindi River, was allegedly referred to as a "Khalistani" by BJP supporters.
"Just because I am wearing a turban, you people are calling me a Khalistani? Is this what you have learnt? If a police officer wears a turban and performs his duty honestly, he becomes a Khalistani for you? Shame on you," he was heard saying to the BJP supporters in the video which surfaced later.
Singh claimed he was just doing his job.
"I'm just doing my job. Did I say anything about your religion, and why are you talking about mine?" he asked.
However, the BJP denied the charge and accused the police officer of failing to perform his duties per the Constitution.
"Nobody has abused him or used the term Khalistani. He is attempting to raise an issue. The police officer was not performing his duties following the Constitution," Paul stated.
Meanwhile, Sikhs in Kolkata planned to gherao the BJP's state headquarters on Muralidhar Lane in protest of the 'Khalistani' jibe, PTI reported citing TMC sources. They also stated that they intend to hold another protest in Asansol.
Commenting on the incident, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge tweeted: "BJP-RSS have only worked to spread poison in the society in the name of religion in this country".
Earlier in the day, police prevented Adhikari from visiting Sandeshkhali, citing the imposition of prohibitory orders and the state government's move to the division bench against a single bench order issued on Monday allowing the opposition leader in the assembly to visit the troubled area.
He later arrived in Sandeskhali after the Calcutta High Court's division bench permitted him to visit the restive area.
Sandeshkhali saw a wave of protests after local women accused Trinamool Congress leader Shajahan Sheikh and his supporters of "land-grab and sexual assault" under duress.
Shajahan has been missing since January 5, when a mob allegedly affiliated with him attacked Enforcement Directorate officials who went to search his premises for evidence of a ration scam.