"How can you call officer a Khalistani for wearing turban": Mamata Banerjee slams BJP

Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], February 21 : Coming out in support of a Sikh IPS officer who was allegedly called "Khalistani" by some BJP protestors, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday said the official was just doing his duty and should not have been called 'Khalistani' just for wearing a turban.
A Sikh IPS officer was deputed to Dhamakhali to prevent senior West Bengal BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari from visiting restive Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas district, which resulted in confrontations between protesting BJP workers and the police at Dhamakhali.
"What was the fault of the officer doing his duty? Is there no Sikh regiment in the force? We respect all religions. If an officer wears a turban, how can you call him Khalistani? There are Muslim IAS, IPS, and WBCS officers; how can you call them Pakistani just because someone is a Muslim officer? I have been mocked using so many names, but I never reacted to it," the Chief Minister said.
"A few people are now engaging in this. They are the biggest blot in Bengal, those who are maligning Bengal's reputation," she added.
The senior police official lost his cool when some protesters allegedly called him "Khalistani."
Earlier, the Chief Minister also attached a video of the verbal spat in which the police officer was seen sternly protesting against the BJP workers for labelling him "Khalistani" for wearing a turban.
West Bengal police on Tuesday claimed that BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari hurled a 'Khalistani' slur at a Sikh police officer. The police condemned the unprovoked, unacceptable attack on an individual's religious identity and added that stern legal action is being initiated.
In this regard, West Bengal Congress chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury also condemned BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday for allegedly making racial comments about a Sikh IPS officer and demanded that the leader make a public apology.
"The way the leaders of the BJP party in Bengal have insulted a police officer, Special Superintendent, Intelligence Branch, IPS Jaspeet Singh, by calling him a Khalistani, I strongly condemn it. Perhaps these people are not aware of the culture of Bengal, the centuries-old deep relationship between the Sikh community and the Bengali people in Bengal," he said.
Responding to the allegations, Leader of Opposition in West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari has challenged the ADG (South Bengal) to prove his charge that a slur was hurled at a Sikh police officer, within 24 hours or face consequences.
Adhikari was also accompanied by BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul, who claimed that the police officer wasn't fulfilling his duties.
Meanwhile, the West Bengal BJP has said that this incident is being used as a ploy to divert attention from the incidents happening in Sandeshkhali.
"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," West Bengal BJP posted on X.
The Sandeshkhali area has been witnessing unrest for over 10 days as women protestors are seeking justice against alleged atrocities committed by TMC leader Sheikh Shahjahan and his aides.