Chandigarh, May 6 (UNI) An intense political row has erupted between Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) following the IED explosions near the BSF and Army installations in Jalandhar and Amritsar.
Chief Minister Mann, speaking during a 'Shukrana Yatra' at Sri Anandpur Sahib, alleged that these blasts are part of the BJP's election strategy to garner votes by creating fear among the public. He claimed that orchestrating small-scale blasts and riots in poll-bound states is a hallmark of the BJP's political style. In light of the security situation, the Chief Minister has also postponed his scheduled visit to Jalandhar.
The BJP has hit back sharply at these allegations, with union Minister of State Ravneet Singh Bittu describing the Chief Minister's statement as "absurd" and "disgraceful". Bittu pointed out that while the Director General of Police (DGP) is citing the involvement of Pakistan's ISI, the Chief Minister is instead attempting to incite internal political friction. He challenged Mann to file a formal case against BJP leaders if he had any evidence, rather than demoralizing security forces with such claims. BJP National Secretary Tarun Chugh also condemned the remarks, calling them a cheap political tactic.