The West Bengal Police reported that a Sikh police officer had been called a "Khalistani" by the state's BJP politician and leader of opposition, Suvendu Adhikari.
"We, the West Bengal Police fraternity, are outraged to share this video, where one of our own officers was called 'Khalistani' by the state's Leader of the Opposition," the police stated in a series of posts on X. His "problem" was that he was a competent police officer attempting to uphold the law, in addition to being a proud Sikh."
"This remarks is not just upsetting to the community, but also provoking hate and racially charged. That is illegal behavior," the message stated. "We strongly denounce the senseless, intolerable assault on a person's religious identity and beliefs intended to push people to resort to violence and violate the law."
The police, and subsequently the ruling Congress, also circulated an alleged video purporting to show Suvendu Adhikari standing with other BJP members, when all of a sudden, he says "eta hochhe Khalistani".
Jaspreet Singh, the IPS officer posted to the West Bengal Police as a special superintendent of police (Intelligence Bureau), can be heard on camera saying, "You're saying this because I'm wearing a turban. You are free to give your opinion regarding the police, but you are not allowed to give any remarks regarding my faith”.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee shared the same video and claimed that the BJP was "undermining the Sikh community". But the part of the video when the Sikh police officer was reportedly described as a "Khalistani" was missing.
The whole confrontation began when the West Bengal police stopped the BJP leader from visiting the restive Sandeshkhali island in North 24 Parganas district.
