Kolkata: In an alleged incident of an IPS officer being called "Khalistani" during a march of protesters helmed by West Bengal BJP leader and Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, the leader denied calling the Jaspreet Singh IPS so, India Today reported.
He claimed that a video of the incident in which the slur was heard was doctored. The alleged incident happened in North 24 Parganas district when the delegation helmed by the BJP leader was trying to enter Sandeshkhali but was denied entry by the police earlier this week.
Adhikari said that he gives his blessings to the Sikh community, and he would do anything if they could prove that they had spoken anything in front of the police officer.
"The picture and voice are manufactured, and my party and I are not associated with it," India Today quoted Adhikari.
For the past four days, the Sikh community members have been protesting in front of the BJP headquarters in Kolkata over the issue. They demanded an apology from the leader.
On Wednesday, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee posted a video of the IPS officer questioning whether he would have been called a "Khalistani" if he was not wearing a turban. This has kickstarted a political row.
On the day of the alleged incident, Adhikari was visiting the Sandeshkhali island to meet the women who voiced allegations against a Trinamool Congress leader and his aides of sexual assault and land grabbing.
At first, the news was that someone among the delegation led by Adhikari issued the slur, but the Bengal Police released another video suggesting that it was Adhikari himself who called the Sikh IPS officer so. The police also registered an FIR against "unknown BJP leaders" over the incident.