These elections have been seeing opposition leaders prompt to strike the communal chord at any cost with Mayawati openly calling for Muslims to vote for Mahagathbandhan to Rahul contesting from Wayanad to appease minority vote banks. In a similar incident, Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh also tried to give a communal spin to a faceoff between UP police and a truck driver.
Deplorable incident. Shameful that a man in uniform should show such scant regard for the
religious sentiments of a common man. Request @myogiadityanath to take the cop concerned to task. A strong message needs to go out that @BJP4India doesn’t condone such behaviour. https://t.co/n1JAQxGvpD— Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) April 9, 2019
“Deplorable incident. Shameful that a man in uniform should show such scant regard for the religious sentiments of a common man. Request @myogiadityanath to take the cop concerned to task. A strong message needs to go out that @BJP4India doesn’t condone such behavior.” he tweeted on the scuffle which broke out between a police officer and the driver. Though insulting behavior by anyone is condemnable however giving a communal spin to a starry incident speaks the quality of political discourse Congress has chosen to go for.
Uttar Pradesh Police was swift to take proactive action on the whole incident and called for an inquiry in the matter. The officer involved has also been suspended. UP police also reiterated their respect for all religious sentiments of all citizens and had tweeted:
“We regret the whole incident sir. The concerned policeman is being suspended and the whole incident will be enquired by an SP rank officer. UP Police is unequivocally committed to respect the religious sentiments of all citizens and such behavior shall never be pardoned.”
We regret the whole incident sir.
The concerned policeman is being suspended and the whole incident will be enquired by an SP rank officer.
UPPolice is unequivocally committed to respect the religious sentiments of all citizens and such behaviour shall never be pardoned.— UP POLICE (@Uppolice) April 10, 2019
Apart from the professional and sensitive response from the UP Police, Twitter users were out to call out Capt. Amarinder Singh’s bluff and questioned his blatant attempt to communalize a stray law and order incident.
“Body language of police officer is not aggressive enough for suspension, incident should have been enquired into and settled by counseling, CM Amarinder ji You getting engaged at such high level publicly color it religious , I don’t agree with UP police suspension” @ahirsushil tweeted
He also added, “Caption Saheb Sikhs are lovely people we all like them and visit to Punjab or even any Gurudwara is awesome experience …”
Caption Saheb Sikhs are lovely people we all like them and visit to Punjab or even any Gurudwara is awesome experience …
— sushil yadav (@ahirsushil) April 10, 2019
The users also questioned his silence over 1984 Sikh riots in which more than 10000 Sikhs had lost their lives to riots under Congress regime. Capt. Amarinder Singh has been on the crosshairs of his opponents for his silence over 1984 Sikh riots and the role of Congress leaders responsible in inciting violence during those riots.
Twitter user @sidddheart pointing to the hypocrisy of CM’s response tweeted, “I wish the Sikhs did same to the Congressis who killed 8000 Sikhs in 1984. When the Big tree fell.”
I wish the Sikhs did same to the Congressis who killed 8000 Sikhs in 1984.
When the Big tree fell.
— Siddharth Gauraha #ModiKaParivar 🇮🇳 (@Sidddheart) April 10, 2019
Twitter user @iVikasPanwar also pointed out to the incoherency in CM Capt. Amarinder Singh and tweeted,“Sir, with due respect… Can anyone keep a sword in his vehicle? If yes, please confirm… Slapping by police personnel is wrong but is it not happening in Punjab? 100’s of videos are on social media Please don’t make it a religious issue… It’s all about law and order.”
Sir, with due respect..
Can any one keep a sword in his vehicle? If yes, please confirm..
Slapping by a police personnel is wrong but is it not happening in Punjab? 100's of videos are on social media
Please don't make it a religious issue.. It's all about law and order— Vikas Rajput (@iVikas_Rajput) April 9, 2019
Attempts to polarize the stray incidents on communal lines is sure a slippery slope, with the general elections nearing in such spin in the comments by a Chief Minister are highly distressing.
