Ravneet Bittu clarifies 'ISI agent' remark against Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann
Synopsis
Union Minister Ravneet Bittu's 'ISI agent' jab at Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann wasn't a stray remark — it was a calculated counter. With the NIA confirming an ISI imprint in the Jalandhar-Amritsar blasts and the BJP already filing a defamation suit, the row has turned a security incident into a full-blown political war over who controls Punjab's narrative.
Key Takeaways
MoS Ravneet Singh Bittu on 21 May clarified his 'ISI agent' remark, saying it was a direct response to CM Bhagwant Mann blaming BJP for the twin Punjab blasts.
Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav had cited a Pakistan ISI angle in the blasts; the NIA also reportedly found an ISI imprint.
Two explosions struck Jalandhar and Amritsar on 6 May , a day before the first anniversary of Operation Sindoor .
BJP National General Secretary Tarun Chugh served a legal notice to CM Mann , demanding a public apology within seven days .
Punjab Congress Chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring condemned Bittu's remark on X , calling it 'one of the most serious allegations possible against a Constitutional office holder.'
Minister of State Ravneet Singh Bittu on Thursday, 21 May issued a clarification over his incendiary remark labelling Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann an 'ISI agent', stating the comment was a direct response to Mann blaming the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the twin explosions in Punjab — even as Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav had publicly cited an ISI angle in the blasts.
What Bittu Said
Speaking to reporters, the Union Minister maintained that his remark was contextual, not a standalone charge. 'Since he (Mann) was blaming the BJP despite the Punjab DGP mentioning links with ISI, so I said that means you (Mann) are an ISI agent. You are helping them,' Bittu said.
He also pointed to the scale of the security situation in Punjab, stating: 'RPGs were fired, grenades are being thrown everywhere, IEDs are being planted there in Punjab.' Bittu further noted that the blasts occurred near a BJP office in Punjab and on railway tracks in Patiala, adding that Mann, who also holds the Home department portfolio, had chosen to target the BJP rather than address the ISI link flagged by his own police chief.
The Twin Blasts That Triggered the Row
Two back-to-back explosions struck Jalandhar and Amritsar on 6 May, a day before the first anniversary of Operation Sindoor. Following the blasts, Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav stated that Pakistan's ISI appeared to be attempting to destabilise the situation in the state. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) subsequently found an ISI imprint in the twin blasts, according to reports.
BJP's Legal Escalation
The BJP had already moved to escalate the dispute before Bittu's remark. The party filed a defamation suit against Chief Minister Mann after he linked the BJP to the blasts. BJP National General Secretary Tarun Chugh served a legal notice to the Punjab Chief Minister, demanding withdrawal of the statement and a public apology within seven days.
Opposition Hits Back
The controversy drew a sharp response from the Punjab Congress. Punjab Congress Chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, in a post on social media platform X on Tuesday, said: 'Calling Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann an "ISI agent" is one of the most serious allegations possible against a Constitutional office holder.' Warring's intervention signals that the political fallout from Bittu's remark has extended well beyond the BJP-AAP binary, drawing the Congress into what is fast becoming a multi-party confrontation over Punjab's security narrative.
With the NIA probe ongoing and legal proceedings already initiated, the row over the Punjab blasts is set to intensify in the coming weeks.
Point of View
However contextual the intent, is an allegation that carries constitutional and reputational weight that a press briefing cannot simply walk back. What the episode reveals is a deeper BJP strategy: shift the Punjab security narrative from a law-and-order failure to a question of Mann's loyalties. With the NIA confirming an ISI imprint and the DGP on record about Pakistan's role, the BJP has a factual hook — but the leap from 'Mann blamed BJP' to 'Mann is an ISI agent' is prosecutorial overreach that risks inflaming an already volatile border state. The Congress joining the condemnation suggests Bittu's remark may have handed the AAP an unlikely shield.
NationPress
8 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Ravneet Bittu call Bhagwant Mann an 'ISI agent'?
Bittu said the remark was a direct response to CM Mann blaming the BJP for the twin blasts in Punjab, even as Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav had publicly cited an ISI angle. Bittu argued that Mann's refusal to acknowledge the ISI link, despite his own police chief flagging it, amounted to shielding the perpetrators.
What were the twin blasts in Punjab that triggered this row?
Two explosions struck Jalandhar and Amritsar on 6 May 2025, a day before the first anniversary of Operation Sindoor. The NIA reportedly found an ISI imprint in the blasts, and Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav stated that Pakistan's ISI appeared to be attempting to destabilise the state.
What legal action has the BJP taken against CM Bhagwant Mann?
The BJP filed a defamation suit against CM Mann after he linked the party to the Punjab blasts. BJP National General Secretary Tarun Chugh also served a legal notice demanding Mann withdraw his statement and issue a public apology within seven days.
How has the Congress responded to Bittu's remark?
Punjab Congress Chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring posted on X that calling CM Mann an 'ISI agent' is 'one of the most serious allegations possible against a Constitutional office holder,' condemning the remark as a dangerous escalation.
What is the current status of the NIA investigation into the Punjab blasts?
The National Investigation Agency has reportedly found an ISI imprint in the twin blasts in Jalandhar and Amritsar. The probe is ongoing, and its findings have formed the factual basis for BJP's political offensive against the Mann government's handling of the incident.
