KOLKATA: Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday questioned whether anyone sporting a turban could be called a "Khalistani", or whether any Muslim person a "Pakistani". Banerjee was alluding to a "Khalistani" slur on Sikh IPS officer Jaspreet Singh on Tuesday - allegedly by BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, according to the Bengal police - while the officer was on duty near Sandeshkhali.
"What was the fault of the officer, who was just doing his duty? If a Sikh person wears a turban, will you call him a Khalistani? There are many Muslim IAS, IPS and WBCS officers... will you call them Pakistanis? These people [who use such slurs] are a blot on Bengal," Banerjee said.
Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader and former Union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal also strongly protested. Sikh organisations in Kolkata protested on the streets, demanding an apology by BJP, and Adhikari in particular, taking their demonstrations to the Bengal BJP office in central Kolkata. The combined opposition attack pushed the saffron party on the back foot.
All through Wednesday, there was a barrage of criticism directed at BJP over Tuesday's alleged slur at IPS officer Jaspreet Singh, allegedly by BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, from Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader and former Union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal, pushing BJP on the back foot.
On Tuesday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, too, had strongly condemned the incident, saying BJP's "poison of hatred has blinded them". Mann, in a post on X, said it was "highly condemnable for a BJP leader to call a Sikh IPS officer of Bengal, a traitor", adding, "BJP should apologize to Punjabis." Badal wrote, also on X: "A Sikh IPS officer has been called Khalistani.... I condemn this in the strongest possible terms.... I strongly urge the BJP leadership to take strict action against the leaders/workers responsible for this. I also urge Mamata Banerjee to order strict action on these people for defaming and hurting the sentiments of the patriotic Sikh community. We are all proud of you Jaspreet Ji!"
From early morning, hundreds of people from the Sikh community protested outside the BJP party office on Muralidhar Sen Road, shouting slogans of "Sikh Virodhi BJP murdabad", and demanding the arrest of Adhikari and an apology from PM Narendra Modi for the statement. The TMC, in a statement, said: "The Sikh community, deeply aggrieved by the inflammatory 'Khalistani' slurs uttered by Adhikari, has taken to the streets in protest. Their protest stands not only as a call for justice, but also as a solemn mark of respect for their identity and dignity. Twenty-four hours have passed, but why is the PM still silent?"
While there was no fresh statement on the issue from the Bengal BJP or Adhikari, BJP MP S S Ahluwalia stood by his party colleagues, terming the incident a conspiracy. "I know Suvendu Adhikari personally. He will never utter a word against Sikhs. He is a veteran leader and will never say anything to degrade any community. None of the BJP workers will do that. I see a conspiracy , as the post [on X] of the CM came immediately after the incident. She should have also been more careful before posting on such a sensitive issue," Ahluwalia said. He also demanded a probe into the matter. West Bengal Minorities Commission member Satnam Singh Ahluwalia, who also took part in the protests, said: "The turban symbolises the blood and sacrifice of our ancestors."
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