NEW DELHI: The Sikhs were enraged in the Palia subdivision of Lakhimpur Kheri in Indian province of Uttar Pradesh (UP) to stage a protest after a police officer had called a Sikh commuter a “terrorist”.

On July 28, the police were stopping common commuters as some part of the road was under water due to the Sharda river’s overflow but allowing commercial vehicles on the road. The local Sikh commuters objected to this discriminatory behavior of the Police. In response, the cops termed one of the Sikhs as “terrorist”.

Video of the incident has also gone viral over social media.  

Local Sikhs protested against this behaviour of the police in Palia outside the gurdwara. 

Takht Sri Damdama Sahib raised this issue. He said, “In Lakhimpur Kheri-Palia Bhira (on the UP state highway), due to safety measures taken because of the inflow of Sharda water, Palia kotwal Vivek Kumar Upadhyay called passing Sikhs ‘terrorists,’ which led to objections from the Sikh community”.  

He said, “These recurring incidents are the result of the hatred being spread under government patronage against minorities in India. Sikh IPS or IAS officers are being labelled as terrorists in some instances, while in others, Sikhs are being called terrorists by the majority of community officers. Such behaviour towards minorities can engulf the entire country in the fire of hatred”.

Meanwhile, Harjinder Singh Dhami, president of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, also gave a sharp reaction to the act of a police officer calling Sikhs as “terrorists” in Lakhimpur Kheri of Uttar Pradesh.

In a statement, he said, “Culture of India is safe only because of the sacrifices of Sikhs. The UP government should take strict action against the concerned officer. The Sikhs always wish for the good of all. The whole world appreciates the services rendered by Sikhs during natural calamities”. 

He said that hateful attacks are being made on the minorities and especially the Sikhs in India. Some communal minded people also hurt the social community by doing such actions, which are not tolerable, he added.

The SGPC president said that the job of the police is to protect the people, but when a police officer knowingly makes hateful comments about a particular community, it is even more unfortunate. 

Dhami demanded from the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh that immediate action should be taken against the police officer who made anti-Sikh remarks. He also instructed such people who are creating hateful atmosphere against minorities to remain in control.