Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister, Hardeep Singh Puri, criticized Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for linking recent explosions to the BJP, accusing him of politicizing the incident to mask the state government’s alleged incompetence. Two consecutive blasts shook Punjab, with one near the Khasa Army Camp in Amritsar and another near the BSF headquarters in Jalandhar.
Chief Minister Mann downplayed the blasts as “minor” and attributed them to BJP’s alleged attempts to incite violence before the 2027 Assembly elections. Union Minister Puri condemned Mann’s statements and urged him to retract his remarks, emphasizing Punjab’s history of facing cross-border violence and terrorism.
Puri expressed disappointment over CM Mann’s interpretation of the blasts and criticized his suggestion that the BJP might be involved. He highlighted the seriousness of the situation, especially in a border state like Punjab, and emphasized the need to refrain from politicizing terrorism issues.
The Union Minister pointed out the disparity between CM Mann’s and Punjab Police’s statements regarding the blasts, with the DGP indicating ISI’s involvement in destabilizing the state ahead of ‘Operation Sindoor’s’ anniversary. Puri underscored the importance of maintaining law and order, particularly in border regions with a history of terrorism.
