A political row has erupted in West Bengal after an FIR was lodged against Union Minister and BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar, accusing him of throwing a slipper at a Sikh man during a protest on June 12 near Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s residence in Kalighat, Kolkata. The incident, according to the FIR filed at Kalighat police station on June 13, allegedly occurred at the intersection of Hazra Road and Harish Chatterjee Street. The complainant, a Sikh individual, claimed that the slipper hit his turban and constituted not just a physical assault but a deep insult to his religious sentiments. The FIR, which the Trinamool Congress (TMC) publicly shared on its official social media accounts, invoked sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita related to voluntary hurt and religious insult.

The BJP, however, has firmly denied the allegations. According to BJP leaders, the object Majumdar is accused of throwing was merely a paper prop used as part of a symbolic protest, not an actual slipper. Rajya Sabha MP Samik Bhattacharya dismissed the TMC’s version as a “concocted story,” accusing the ruling party of exploiting religious sensitivities to vilify BJP leaders. He added that the BJP has immense respect for Sikh history and religious figures, citing the teachings of Guru Teg Bahadur and Guru Gobind Singh. The controversy follows a series of confrontations between the BJP and West Bengal Police, with Majumdar claiming that police obstructed a BJP rally in Maheshtala and acted on the orders of the Chief Minister in an undemocratic manner.

The TMC, meanwhile, has continued to amplify its allegations, accusing the BJP of repeatedly offending the Sikh community. Citing a previous incident involving BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari allegedly labeling a Sikh police officer as “Khalistani,” TMC claimed that the latest act was part of a pattern of disrespect. “The Sikh community has responded with rightful anger,” the party said in its official statement, demanding an immediate and unconditional apology from Majumdar. They also warned of widespread protests if their concerns are ignored. As of now, PTI has not independently verified the FIR copy posted online, and the matter remains politically charged with both parties standing firm on their narratives.