Senior state government officials declined to comment on the matter (File)
Calcutta:
The National Commission for Minorities (NCM) has requested a report from the West Bengal government within the next 15 days on the issue of a Sikh’s turban allegedly ripped off by state police during a political rally this week. latest, NCM sources said.
In a letter to West Bengal Chief Secretary Alapan Bandopadhyay and the State Police DGP, the NCM said the commission received a complaint from Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga, a senior leader of the BJP unit. Delhi, on the alleged removal of the turban from a Sikh Private Security Officer on October 8.
“The undersigned is instructed to request that you send a report on this matter within 15 days so that the matter can be referred to the commission for consideration,” said the letter signed by NCM co-secretary Dr E Richards.
Senior state government officials declined to comment on the matter.
Controversy erupted Thursday after police in West Bengal allegedly assaulted a Sikh and removed his turban during a BJP rally in Howrah.
Police said the man, identified as Balwinder Singh, carried a gun during the BJP’s march to the Secretary of State on October 8 and that his headgear “fell automatically in the scuffle which followed”.
The BJP accused the Congressional government of Trinamool in the state of hurting the feelings of Sikhs.
The TMC, in turn, called the allegations “baseless” and accused the BJP, which it has repeatedly criticized on various issues, of “trying to communalize the matter”.
