What’s the ‘Khalistani’ remark row haunting Bengal’s Sandeshkhali now?

Another controversy has erupted in West Bengal’s Sandeshkhali after a video of a Sikh IPS officer accusing a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) delegation of using the ‘Khalistani’ slur for him surfaced on social media. Sandeshkhali, a village in North 24 Parganas district, has been in the limelight since several local women accused Trinamool Congress (TMC) strongmen of sexual harassment and land grab in early February.

The latest row took place when BJP leaders led by West Bengal Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari were on their way to Sandeshkhali on Tuesday (20 February) and were stopped by the police.

What happened? How the incident in Bengal has turned into a political slugfest? Let’s take a closer look.

‘Khalistani’ slur hurled at Bengal cop

A Sikh cop deputed in West Bengal’s Dhamakhali alleged he was called a ‘Khalistani’ by BJP leaders. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee shared a video on X in which the police officer can be seen telling BJP leaders, “Why are you calling me a Khalistani? Is it because of my religion? Is it because I wear a turban?”

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As per The Quint, the cop was identified as Senior Superintendent of Police (IB) Jaspreet Singh, a West Bengal cadre IPS officer of the 2016 batch.

Speaking to ABC Punjabi, Singh accused BJP MLA Suvendu Adhikari of making the ‘Khalistani’ remark against him. “I will take action on this. I am not speaking about anyone’s religion, why are you speaking about my religion,” Singh said, as per The Quint.

Later on Tuesday, the ruling TMC posted a video on X of some members of the Sikh community protesting outside the BJP’s state headquarters at Muralidhar Lane in Kolkata over the alleged derogatory comment.

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Political row erupts over Khalistani remark

Taking objection to the alleged remark, the West Bengal police called it “malicious”, “racial” and “communally inciting”.

“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. His ‘fault’: he is both a proud Sikh, and a capable police officer who was trying to enforce the law”, it wrote on X.

The Bengal police said “stern legal action” was being initiated.

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... (2/3)

— West Bengal Police (@WBPolice) February 20, 2024

West Bengal CM Banerjee accused the BJP of “overstepping constitutional boundaries” and “insulting” the Sikh community.

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… pic.twitter.com/toYs8LhiuU

— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) February 20, 2024

Punjab CM and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Bhagwant Mann also condemned the incident. “It is highly condemnable for a BJP leader to call a Sikh IPS officer of Bengal a traitor. Perhaps BJP does not know that till date, Punjabis have made maximum sacrifice in liberating the country and maintaining its independence. BJP should apologise to Punjabis,” he said in a post on X.

Slamming the saffron party, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge wrote on X, “BJP-RSS have only worked to spread poison in the society in the name of religion in this country. The sting of religious fanaticism spread by the BJP is poisoning our diverse culture to such an extent that protectors of the law are being branded terrorists in the name of religion."

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said the “country is with IPS officer Jaspreet Singh.”

अपना ‘राजनीतिक बाज़ार’ सजाने के लिए भाजपा द्वारा की गई ‘नफरत की खेती’ का ज़हर समाज में फैल चुका है।

इस ज़हर से अंधे हो चुके लोग न किसान देख रहे हैं, न जवान और न ही खाकी का सम्मान।

देश IPS जसप्रीत सिंह के साथ है। https://t.co/iL6QnQEmin

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) February 20, 2024

Harjinder Singh Dhami, president of the apex Sikh body Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), also issued a statement over the incident. “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,” he wrote on X.

BJP denies charge

The BJP has rejected the allegations. “No one used the pejorative term for the officer. He just chose to flout service rules and used the occasion to attract undue attention on to himself, by flying off the handle, when he should have been focusing on upholding the law,” NDTV quoted the saffron party’s statement as saying.

BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul, who was among the leaders on their way to Sandeshkhali, claimed the police officer was not carrying out his duties.

“No one has abused him or used the word Khalistani. He is trying to make an issue. The police officer was not performing his duty as per the Constitution,” Paul reportedly said.

BJP leader Adhikari dared the Bengal police to prove their allegations. He also accused the ruling TMC of cooking up the issue to divert attention from Sandeshkhali.

Sharing video and photos of police manhandling Sikh protesters, the BJP wrote on X, “It is a shame that the WB Police is willing to be a political pawn in the hands of Mamata Banerjee and is dragging in religion. Here is a video and images to remind how disrespectful WB Police has been towards the Sikhs. You have pulled off turbans and dragged Sikh protestors on the streets, for taking on Mamata Banerjee’s decrepit administration. So don’t lecture us”.

Addressing a press conference on Wednesday (21 February), BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad hit out at Bengal CM Banerjee over the unrest in Sandeshkhali, saying the TMC would have to “have to pay for it” electorally.

With inputs from agencies