In a video released by Bengal Police, Suvendu Adhikari of the BJP refers to an officer as “Khalistani.”

According to the West Bengal Police, state BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari was the one who yelled the derogatory term “Khalistani” at a Sikh police officer on Tuesday.

The West Bengal Police stated in a string of postings on X, “We, the West Bengal Police fraternity, are outraged to share this video, wherein the state’s Leader of the Opposition refers to one of our own officers as ‘Khalistani.'” His “problem” is that he was attempting to uphold the law while also being a proud Sikh and a skilled police officer.”

“This remark is not only provocative to the community, but also hateful and racially charged. That is illegal behavior. The message said, “We vehemently denounce the senseless, intolerable assault on a person’s religious identity and convictions intended to push others to resort to violence and violate the law.

The police, and subsequently the governing Trinamool Congress, also circulated an alleged video purporting to show Suvendu Adhikari standing with other BJP members when all of a sudden the words ‘eta hochhe Khalistani’ (he is a Khalistani) are audible.

It is unclear from the video, however, if Suvendu Adhikari really shouted the controversial phrase.

Mahua Moitra, a member of the Trinamool Congress, also posted the video on her X account with the caption, “‘Eta Hochhe Khalistani’ – He is a Khalistani… can you hear the BJP’s dirty lips and minds? It is the BJP’s veracity. Don’t make a mistake. Let’s denounce this bigotry and defend India’s pride, the Sikh community.”

Consequently, what happened?
A Sikh police officer approached a group of BJP politicians and employees on Tuesday, claiming that they had dubbed him a Khalistani.

Jaspreet Singh, an IPS officer assigned to the West Bengal Police as a Special Superintendent of Police (Intelligence Bureau), is heard on camera stating, “You’re saying this because I’m wearing a turban. Might you have referred to me as Khalistani if I hadn’t been wearing a turban? You’re free to express your opinions on the police, but you’re not allowed to discuss my faith.”

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee uploaded the video and said that the BJP was “undermining the Sikh community”. But the segment of the video when the Sikh police officer was allegedly referred to as a “Khalistani” was missing.

The altercation started when BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari was prevented by the police from going to the unrest-plagued island of Sandeshkhali in the district of North 24 Parganas.

Adhikari’s companion, BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul, is heard on the video saying to the police, “We haven’t said it.”

Agnimitra Afterwards, Paul said Mamata Banerjee was trying to “distract from the Sandeshkhali incident” by exaggerating this occurrence.

BJP AND SUVENDU REFUSE TO ACCEPT CHARGES
Suvendu Adhikari and the BJP remained resolute, defying the police to provide “evidence” of their charges, even when the alleged video appeared.

In a video that the Bengal branch of the BJP posted on X, Suvendu Adhikari is heard stating, “I will tell Supratim Sarkar (Additional Director General of Police, South Bengal) that you have to prove the allegations within 24 hours or I will take legal action against you.”