Kolkata: Raj Bhavan or the governor’s estate in Kolkata will soon get a garden dedicated to the Punjabi community as a “tribute and symbol of Bengal’s abiding admiration” for them.
The governor will also unveil a portrait of freedom fighter Bhagat Singh in Raj Bhavan on 23 March.
The decision to set up the “Punjabi Bagh”, announced by Governor C.V. Ananda Bose on Thursday, came hours after a Sikh delegation called on him seeking his intervention over BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari allegedly calling IPS officer Jaspreet Singh a “Khalistani”.
Representatives of five city gurdwaras complained to the governor Thursday about Adhikari – the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly – allegedly using the slur against the officer after being stopped from going to unrest-hit Sandeshkhali. Adhikari has denied using the word.
The delegation wrote to the governor in a memorandum: “The officer’s fundamental rights have been trampled upon by the lumpen elements of the BJP leaders of West Bengal by their cheap and discriminatory remarks only because he was wearing a turban, which is the very heart of a Sikh’s identity. Further to add insult to injury, he has been labelled as a stooge of the state ruling party and to add further insult to injury, now the said leaders are asking for proof, which is clearly available on social media videos.”
On Tuesday, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee shared a video on her social media page where IPS officer Jaspreet Singh could be heard saying he was called a “Khalistani” for wearing a turban and that his religion was targeted by the opposition BJP, a charge the party has denied.
The Sikh community has sought an independent probe into the incident, and urged the governor to act against the leaders for discrimination.
“We demand decisive action to address this egregious act of discrimination and to reaffirm to a society where every individual is treated with dignity and respect. We demand that exemplary punishment be meted to the BJP leaders,” the memorandum said.
It has, however, been three days since the incident and the state administration is yet to move against the BJP.
On the day of the alleged verbal abuse, Additional Director General of Police (South Bengal) Supratim Sarkar had told the media that the police were mulling action under Section 295A of the IPC – outraging religious feelings of a class.
Adhikari then challenged the police to prove their charge within 24 hours or face protests.
Meanwhile, local protests in Sandeshkhali continued to rage against absconding Trinamool Congress leader and strongman Sheikh Shahjahan, who has been accused of land grabbing and rape. The influential leader has also been implicated in a ration scam.
The date for the unveiling of the portrait was wrongly given in a previous version of this report. That has now been corrected. The error is regretted.
(Edited by Tikli Basu)
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