Chandigarh, Jan 29 (NationPress) The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab has vehemently criticized the Congress leadership for their “criminal silence” regarding the alarming remarks made by former Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, who asserted that she was encouraged to permit bomb blasts in the state to facilitate the Congress party's return to power.

AAP spokesperson Baltej Pannu expressed concern during a press briefing, noting that more than 24 hours after Bhattal's interview gained traction, neither she nor any prominent Congress figure had stepped forward to clarify or denounce her claims. “This silence raises serious questions. Are these statements true, or is Congress attempting to conceal an unsettling reality?” he questioned.

Pannu recalled that this isn’t the first time such shocking allegations have emerged. Former Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh had previously mentioned instances where young men were presented to the then Prime Minister only to be killed, allegations that went uninvestigated during his lengthy tenure in office.

“Why did Captain Amarinder Singh, despite being the ruler of Punjab for so long, never address those youths or seek justice for their families?” Pannu asked. Referring to Bhattal's claims, he emphasized the seriousness of the assertion that senior leaders, advisors, or officials suggested manufacturing bomb blasts in public areas for electoral gain.

“Punjab has endured an unbearable toll from violence throughout turbulent times. Families were shattered, youth were lost, and the state continues to bear the social, economic, and emotional burdens. To propose using terrorism as a political weapon is absolutely unacceptable,” he stated.

Pannu further questioned why Congress President Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, Opposition Leader Partap Singh Bajwa, and other senior figures have opted for silence on this issue. “At the very least, Congress owes it to the people of Punjab to clarify whether Rajinder Kaur Bhattal is lying or telling the truth. Who were those leaders, advisors, and officials that provided such counsel?” he demanded.

He drew a connection between Bhattal’s statement and the bomb blast preceding the 2017 elections that claimed innocent lives, including children. “If Bhattal’s assertion is accurate, Punjabis are entitled to question whether such incidents were part of a broader conspiracy to manipulate power,” Pannu insisted, calling for thorough accountability.

Pannu contrasted the AAP's vision with that of traditional parties like Congress and Akali Dal, which he accused of consistently compromising Punjab's interests for political expediency, whether concerning SYL, Chandigarh, Panjab University, or BBMB. “These parties have governed by stifling truth and sacrificing Punjab’s rights. Today, their own leaders are revealing that dark past,” he concluded.