The new faceoff issue between the ruling Trinamool Congress of West Bengal and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is an alleged "Khalistani" remark by latter's Suvendu Adhikari at a Sikh police officer in the state during his visit to the trouble-torn town of Sandeshkhali on Tuesday.
BJP leader and West Bengal Assembly Leader of Opposition (LoP) Suvendu Adhikari visited West Bengal's Sandeshkhali today after being given a green signal by the Calcutta High Court to make a visit to the town where multiple women have levelled allegations of land grabbing and sexual assaultꦆ by ruling TMC's Shajahan Sheikh.
BJP's Suvendu Called Sikh Cop 'Khalistani'?
A row erupted after a Sikh IPS officer, who was deputed to prevent senior West Bengal BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari from visiting restive Sandeshkhali in𓄧 North 24 Parganas district, alle🍎ged saffron party activists allegedly dubbed him as a 'Khalistani'.
"Just because I am wearing a turban, you people are calling me a Khalistani? Is this what you have learnt? If a police officer wear🎀s a turban and performs his duty honestly, he becomes a Khalistani for you? Shame on you," IPS officer Jaspreet Singh was heard telling the BJP workers in Sandeshkhali.
"I am just doing my job. Did I say anything about your religion; why are you speaking about my re🐽ligion?" he said.
The ruling ▨Trinamool Congress also shared a vi༺deo on X, claiming that it was Adhikari who had used the ‘Khalistani’ jibe at the officer.
“EXPOSED! @BJP4India, your deep-rooted prejudice is laid bare. None other than LoP @SuvenduWB was the man behind the disrespectful ‘Khalistani’ slur. It’s no surprise that BJP leaders persist in dividing and spewing disg🐬usting words. Their shameless attempt to stigmatise and demean an IPS Officer based on re𒉰ligious attire is unacceptable. Enough of hate-mongering, apologise now!” it said.
The West Bengal Police꧑, too, asserted that the Leader of the Opposition called the Sikh IPS officer ‘Khalistani’.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee asserted the BJP's "divisive politics has shamelessly overstepped constitutional boundaries", ܫand condemned the "audacious attemp🍃t to undermine the reputation of Sikhs”.
"As per @BJP4India every person wearing a TURBAN is a KHALISTANI. I VEHEMENTLY C🅠ONDEMN this audacious attempt to undermine the reputation of our SIKH BROTHERS & SISTERS, revered for their SACRIFICES and UNWA🍃VERING DETERMINATION to our nation," she posted on X.
"We stand firm in protecting Bengal's social harmony and will take stern lawful measures to prevent any attempts to dis♍rupt it," the CM said.
BJP Denies Charge
The BJP, however, denied ꧑the charge and accused the police officer of not performing his duty as per the Constitution.
BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul, who was accompanying Adh🌟ikari, claimed that the police officer wasn't fulfilling his duties, but dismissed the allegation that BJP supporters called him a 'Khalistani'.
"No one has abused him or us𒅌ed the word ‘Khalistani’. He is trying to make an i🐷ssue," Paul said.
Later, members of the Sikh community staged a demonstration outside the BJP's state headquarters𝓡 at Muralidhar Lane in Kolkata in protest against the alleged 'Khalistani' jibe. They also ⭕protested in Asansol.
Suvendu Adhikari, however, denied the charge and accuse🌺d the TMC☂ of trying to divert attention from the developments in Sandeshkhali.
“The allegations against me are baseless. It was the police officer who was instigating the supporters. If the TMC is so concerned about minorities, they should first take action against their councillor Ananya Banerjee, who has made objectionable remarks♔ against the Christian community,” he told a press conference in Kolkata.
The Bengal BJP later alleged on X that the state police was turning into "political pawns" of the TMC, and blဣamed the Sikh IPS officer for violating court orders.
Sandeshkhali has been rattled by protests after local wo⛄men accused absconding Trinamool Congress leader Shajahan Sheikh and hꦓis supporters of “sexually assaulting" them under coercion.
