During the saffron party’s protest against the Sandeshkhali incident, Suvendu Adhikari, the leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s opposition in the assembly, allegedly called a Sikh Indian Police Service (IPS) officer posted in West Bengal in a video that went viral on social media on Tuesday. Adhikari’s remarks sparked a significant national political scandal.
As Adhikari’s BJP lawmakers attempted to enter Sandeshkhali hamlet in the North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, he abruptly accused Jaspreet Singh, an IPS officer, of being a “Khalistani.” Singh works in the Basirhat police station in West Bengal as the Special Superintendent of Police (SSP), Intelligence Branch (IB).
Opposition parties immediately attacked the BJP for its “anti-minority” stance and use of slurs after the video went popular on social media.
Agnimitra Paul, the MLA for Asansol South, and Adhikari, two BJP leaders, are seen disputing with the police in the video. The BJP is in the dark about the incident; its Punjabi leadership is silent.
Singh said in an interview with The Wire that he was on duty at the Basirhat police station in Sandeshkhali hamlet at the time of the event.
“We attempted to prevent a group of politicians (BJP legislators) led by Suvendu Adhikari, the Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly, from entering Sandeshkhali because Section 144 CrPC was in effect at the time. Suvendu Adhikari referred to me as “Khalistani” when we stopped the politicians, which was completely inappropriate. I vehemently objected to this,” he stated.
The BJP leader backed off and women leaders took the lead when the 2016-batch IPS officer from Faridabad, Haryana, confronted Adhikari. He stated, “That’s when Suvendu Adhikari went behind and sat there.”
With increasing numbers of incidents of violence against Sikhs, Singh addressed a message to Sikhs in particular, asking them not to see themselves as “victims” or “helpless.” “Instead, possess the ability and fortitude to defend not just your own rights and dignity but also those of others,” he said.
“We anticipate taking legal action shortly. Legal action will be taken in accordance with the law, and our police team is reviewing the video footage,” Singh stated.
According to Singh, the police permitted the BJP lawmakers to enter Sandeshkhali between 12.30 and 1 pm, following the directives of the West Bengal high court.
This incident happened at a time when farmers, many of whom are Sikh, were already being called out on social media and facing attacks as they travelled to Delhi for the “Delhi Chalo” protest. On the social media platform X, “Khalistanis” has been trending since the start of the Delhi Chalo morcha on February 13.
The video
In the footage, Singh is seen angrily addressing MLA Agnimitra Paul about the slur, saying, “I will take action on this,” while standing in the throng. Did you call me a Khalistani just because I wore a turban? You are not permitted to discuss my religion. Has anyone discussed your religion with others? So why did you make a religious comment about me?
The policeman then yelled at Paul, “You are the only one making comments about religion; nobody else is.” Will anyone in the police department who dons a turban be taken for a Khalistani? Don’t bring up my faith; I’m not talking about yours. You call me a Khalistani? How dare you! Is this what you’re at?
“We the West Bengal Police fraternity are outraged to share the video, where one of our own officers was called ‘Khalistani’ by the state’s Leader of Opposition,” the police said in a statement on X, taking note of the incident. His “fault” is that he was attempting to uphold the law while simultaneously being a proud Sikh and a skilled police officer.
“The remark incites communal harmony while also being hateful and racially charged. That is illegal behaviour. The police statement said, “We categorically condemn the unwarranted, unacceptable attack on an individual’s religious identity and beliefs intended to incite people to take to violence and break the law.” “Serious legal action has been filed.”
Political figures criticise BJP
Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, took a hard stance against the BJP, writing on X, “Today the BJP has shamelessly overstepped constitutional boundaries with its divisive politics.” Everybody wearing a turban, according to the BJP, is a Khalistani.
“This bold attempt to damage the standing of our Sikh brothers and sisters, who are respected for their selflessness and sacrifices to our country, is something I strongly condemn.
“We will take strong legal action to stop any attempts to disturb Bengal’s social harmony, and we remain steadfast in our defence of it.”
The West Bengal ruling party, the All-India Trinamool Congress, posted a video of Sikh community members participating in a protest and writing on X: “Kisan Virodhi BJP, Sikh Virodhi BJP murdabaad.” Sikh community members protested outside the BJP headquarters, calling for an apology for the racial remarks made against an IPS officer who was on duty by none other than LoP Suvendu Adhikari.
Every man who dons a turban is considered a “Khalistani” by them. Express regret to @PM Narendra Modi.
The TMC also released a press statement in which it claimed that Adhikari had mislabeled an IPS officer who was on duty as a Khalistani on Tuesday, in an effort to upset the peace in Sandeshkhali and cause nationwide indignation. It stated, “This was an egregious disregard for the orders of the Calcutta High Court, which expressly forbade the leader from making divisive speeches in the areas.”
President of the AITC Mahila Wing Chandrima Bhattacharya earlier said at a press conference: “Prior to 2014, when the BJP came to power, the country had not seen this level of divisive politics.” Since then, the BJP has repeatedly used these strategies. They had used comparable strategies even amid the farmers’ demonstrations.
The president of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami, wrote on X: “I am deeply offended by this incident.”
The deliberate defamation of Sikh IPS officer S. Jaspreet Singh’s character carried out by West Bengal BJP leaders is strongly condemned. Leaders in the nation who hold such views should never lose sight of the fact that Sikhs have given the greatest sacrifices in defence of the nation’s freedom.
Sikhs know how to serve the country in line with their traditions and customs; they don’t need a certificate from anyone.
Additionally, Dhami wrote, “It raises serious concerns that there are individuals in the nation who intentionally foster hatred and that the governments do nothing to stop them. To ensure that those who are genuinely carrying out their duties in other contexts are not subjected to such hatred, those who foster such an environment ought to face consequences.
Senior Congressman Partap Singh Bajwa, the leader of the opposition in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, added, “This is beyond shameful.” A Sikh IPS officer in West Bengal is being called a “Khalistani” by BJP workers simply for carrying out his official duties. Does the BJP view Sikhs in this way? Those attempting to incite this hooliganism and paint Sikhs as Khalistanis should be strongly opposed.
“Labelling a decorated Sikh Police officer as Khalistani who was performing bona fide duties as a police officer in West Bengal is strongly condemnable, highly objectionable, and a case of serious hate crime,” said Shiromani Akali Dal spokesperson Daljit Singh Cheema, criticising the BJP earlier. The offender should be charged, and those found guilty should receive exemplary punishment.