The incident, which snowballed into a new confrontation between the BJP and the ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal, took place Monday when a police contingent stopped BJP leaders and workers from visiting Sandeshkhali, at the centre of a political storm, at Dhamakhali in North 24 Parganas district.
As the row escalated Tuesday, with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee targeting the BJP, the West Bengal Police released a statement on X, saying it was “outraged to share this video, where one of our own officers was called ‘Khalistani’ by the state’s Leader of the Opposition”. It said “stern legal action” was being initiated in the matter.
The BJP rejected the allegation, with Adhikari saying no one in the party used the word “Khalistani” and that they respected the Sikh community.
Adhikari did not respond to phone calls for comment on the police tweet about the Leader of Opposition using the “Khalistani” word against the officer.
Earlier, Adhikari, responding to South Bengal ADG Supratim Sarkar’s remarks to the press, said the officer will have to prove which BJP leader used the word. “I will ask Supratim Sarkar to prove it within 24 hours. Otherwise, I will take legal action against him,” he said.
A video of the incident showed SSP (IB) Jaspreet Singh, a 2016-batch IPS officer, standing in front of BJP leaders, including MLA Agnimitra Paul, and responding angrily after being called a “Khalistani”.
Singh said, “I will take action on this. Just because I am wearing a turban, you assumed I am a Khalistani? You cannot say anything about my religion. Has anybody said anything about your religion? Then why did you comment on my religion?”
“Nobody is making any comments on religion, only you are making. If any police personnel is wearing a turban, are they assumed to be Khalistani?… I’m not discussing your faith; don’t bring up mine either. How dare you label me a Khalistani! Is this your level?” Singh said.
Tagging a video of the incident, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, in a post on X, said, “Today, the BJP’s divisive politics has shamelessly overstepped constitutional boundaries. As per @BJP4India every person wearing a turban is a Khalistani. 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. We stand firm in protecting Bengal’s social harmony and will take stern lawful measures to prevent any attempts to disrupt it.”
In the evening, the police in its statement defended Singh. “His ‘fault’: he is both a proud Sikh, and a capable police officer who was trying to enforce the law.”
“This comment is as much malicious and racial as it is communally inciting. It is a criminal act. We unequivocally condemn the unprovoked, unacceptable attack on an individual’s religious identity and beliefs aimed to incite people to take to violence and break the law. Stern legal action is being initiated,” police said.
Earlier, ADG Sarkar told a press conference: “We are doing our duty… Somebody is Muslim, somebody is Sikh or from any other religion. If anybody comments on their religion then they are trying to do divisive politics. This is not only condemnable but also a punishable crime. It is unacceptable. We will take appropriate legal action against this.”
Adhikari, on his part, maintained: “We never do such things. We do nationalist politics, oppose Pakistanis and Khalistanis but we never said such things to the officer.”
“The officer did this to catch the Chief Minister’s attention. He did not tell the truth. Mamata Banerjee used to do this type of cheap politics. We respect Guru Nanak and the Sikh community. They had sacrificed during our freedom movement. But our fight against separatist groups will continue,” he told reporters.
Meanwhile, the incident also drew criticism outside the state.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge posted: “Mr Modi (Prime Minister Narendra Modi), your only objective is to spread disharmony, hatred and violence between religions, sects and communities. Your rule is the “amrit kaal” of divisive politics!”
Targeting the BJP and its “cultivation of hatred”, senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said: “The country is with IPS Jaspreet Singh.”
The Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) also condemned the incident.
In a post on X, SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami said, “The intentional character assassination of a Sikh IPS officer S Jaspreet Singh by the BJP leaders in West Bengal is highly condemnable. Leaders who have such thinking in the country should never forget that Sikhs have made the most sacrifices for the freedom and protection of the country. Sikhs do not need to get a certificate from anyone, rather they know how to perform services for the nation in accordance with their traditions and customs.”