By Kusum Arora
Jalandhar: A video of a Sikh Indian Police Service (IPS) officer posted in West Bengal went viral on social media on Tuesday, when Bharatiya Janata Party’s leader of opposition in the assembly Suvendu Adhikari reportedly labelled him a ‘Khalistani’ during the saffron party’s protest against the Sandeshkhali incident. Adhikari’s statement led to a major political controversy in the country.
BJP legislators under the leadership of Adhikari were trying to enter Sandeshkhali village in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district, when suddenly he accused IPS officer Jaspreet Singh of being a ‘Khalistani’. Singh is posted as Special Superintendent of Police (SSP), Intelligence Branch (IB) at the Basirhat police station, West Bengal.
No sooner did the video go viral on social media, opposition parties slammed the BJP for its ‘anti-minority’ stand and use of slurs.
Two BJP leaders – Asansol South MLA Agnimitra Paul and Adhikari – figure prominently in the video, where they can be seen arguing with the police. The BJP is on the backfoot; its Punjab leadership is mum over the episode.
Talking to The Wire, Singh said he was on duty in Sandeshkhali village under the Basirhat police station when this incident took place.
This story was originally published in thewire.in. Read the full story here.