Jalandhar: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann escalated his political offensive on Thursday, repeatedly accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of orchestrating the recent twin explosions in Jalandhar and Amritsar to incite communal discord. Speaking in Jalandhar during the second leg of his Shukrana Yatra, Mann characterized the blasts—one occurring near the Border Security Force headquarters and another near an Army cantonment in Khasa—as a calculated move by the saffron camp to set the stage for the 2027 provincial elections. He alleged that the BJP is attempting to import a strategy of fear into Punjab, drawing direct parallels to the party’s recent electoral sweep in West Bengal. According to the Chief Minister, the timing of these minor blasts suggests a deliberate effort to provoke a rift between Hindu and Sikh communities, particularly as the state moves to implement a stringent new anti-sacrilege law.
The Chief Minister’s remarks have sparked a significant debate, notably because they appear to contrast with the preliminary findings shared by high-ranking security officials. While Mann pointed the finger at domestic political rivals and the Shiromani Akali Dal, Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav has indicated that the explosions might be the handiwork of external actors, specifically Pakistan’s ISI. The BJP has since responded sharply, with state leaders dismissing the allegations as reckless and demanding that the Chief Minister either provide substantial proof or resign from his post for failing to manage the province’s security. Opposition figures from the Congress have also weighed in, accusing the administration of using serious security lapses to indulge in cheap political mudslinging.
Despite the political friction, investigative agencies, including the National Investigation Agency, have joined the Punjab Police to examine forensic samples and CCTV footage from the affected sites. Fortunately, no casualties were reported in either the Jalandhar scooter explosion or the Amritsar grenade incident, though structural damage was recorded at both locations. For now, the provincial government maintains a stance of zero tolerance toward any activity that threatens the peace of the region, even as the war of words between the ruling party and the opposition intensifies. The situation remains a critical test for the state’s law and order framework as it balances internal political tensions with broader security threats.
