Opposition slams Punjab Govt over twin blasts
Punjab was placed on high alert Tuesday night after two low-intensity explosions near sensitive military establishments in Jalandhar and Amritsar sparked panic and unleashed a bitter political slugfest between the ruling Aam Aadmi Party and the Opposition BJP. Opposition parties described the twin blasts as a serious lapse in intelligence and law and order.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday described the blasts as minor incidents and directly accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of orchestrating or exploiting them to create an atmosphere of fear and communal tension ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections.
He claimed the timing, especially after recent West Bengal polls, showed the BJP was shifting focus to Punjab and using such incidents as part of its electoral strategy: “The BJP is a communal party. These minor blasts are part of their preparation for the Punjab Assembly elections.” Mann said the party relies on inciting violence and scaring voters to gain support.
Former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday launched an attack on Union Home Minister Amit Shah for the Punjab twin blasts, saying that he should be held responsible for the incidents. Yadav’s remarks came hours after Punjab Chief Minister Mann and triggered a political row by blaming the BJP for the explosions.
“If a blast has taken place, then who should be held responsible? It should be the country’s Home Minister,” Yadav said.
While talking to journalists in Lucknow. He further said that the probe into the Punjab twin blasts would meet the same fate as Pulwama and Pahalgam, claiming that truth was never known to the people.
Meanwhile, the BJP and Opposition parties in Punjab were quick to condemn the AAP Government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who also holds the Home portfolio. BJP leaders, including national spokesperson Sambit Patra and Punjab unit Chief Sunil Jakhar, strongly condemned Mann’s remarks as “condemnable, irresponsible and politically motivated”. They accused him of making allegations at the behest of AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal without waiting for investigation results, especially given Punjab’s sensitive border location. Patra highlighted that every statement by the Chief Minister carries weight and called the comments an attempt to deflect from security issues.
Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal accused the Government of complete intelligence failure. In a post on X, Badal wrote: “Three blasts in 10 days, two in a single day, May 5: Jalandhar outside BSF headquarters and Sri Amritsar Sahib Army area, April 27, Rajpura rail track. Continued intelligence failures and the collapse of law and order are a matter of grave concern. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who is also the state Home Minister, is busy with mimicry and cheap politics. He has forfeited the right to remain in office.”
Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring echoed the criticism. “Back-to-back blasts have shaken Punjab. Yesterday in Jalandhar, and now near Khasa Camp in Amritsar, this is deeply alarming,” he posted on X. “Who is trying to destabilise our state? Why has the Punjab Government failed to prevent such incidents? What is the Government of India doing? Repeated lapses point to a serious breakdown of intelligence and security. Punjab’s peace cannot be compromised. We demand accountability and immediate action.”
With security forces on high alert and forensic analysis underway, the twin blasts have once again raised concerns about the fragile security situation in the border State.
