Punjab blasts: BJP MPs attack CM Bhagwant Mann over ISI remarks
Synopsis
Twin blasts in Amritsar and Jalandhar have ignited a fierce political battle in Punjab, with BJP MP Raghav Chadha accusing CM Bhagwant Mann of contradicting his own DGP's ISI findings and issuing what he called a 'pro-Pakistan' statement. The dispute lays bare a deepening fault line between the AAP government and the Centre over border-state security accountability.
Key Takeaways
Twin bomb blasts occurred in Amritsar and Jalandhar , Punjab, sparking a political controversy on 6 May 2025 .
BJP Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha claimed the Punjab DGP had pointed to Pakistan's ISI as being behind the blasts.
Chadha accused CM Bhagwant Singh Mann of contradicting the DGP and giving a "clean chit" to the ISI, calling his remarks "pro-Pakistan." BJP MP Ashok Mittal condemned the blasts and called for Centre-state coordination to address the security threat.
Security agencies have reportedly intensified surveillance and investigations across Punjab .
A political storm erupted on Wednesday, 6 May over twin blast incidents in Punjab's Amritsar and Jalandhar, with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders launching sharp attacks on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led state government and questioning Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann's public statements on the matter.
BJP MPs Raise Alarm Over Twin Blasts
BJP Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha expressed serious concern, describing the blasts as a deliberate attempt to disturb peace in the border state. "In the last few hours, two very dangerous incidents have taken place in Punjab; two bomb blasts have occurred, one in Jalandhar and the other in Amritsar. We condemn these acts. The situation is deeply concerning; these bomb blasts represent an attempt to destabilise the peace and tranquillity of Punjab," Chadha said.
He further claimed that, based on preliminary findings and forensic assessments, the Punjab Police leadership had pointed towards the involvement of Pakistan's intelligence agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). "After visiting the crime scenes, conducting thorough investigations with forensic experts, and carrying out preliminary inquiries, the Punjab DGP has concluded that Pakistan's ISI is behind these incidents," he added.
Chadha Targets CM Mann's Remarks
Sharpening his attack, Chadha alleged a direct contradiction between the Punjab DGP's assessment and the Chief Minister's public position. According to Chadha, Mann had issued statements claiming that Pakistan's ISI was not involved and instead pointed fingers at the BJP. "Why is Bhagwant Mann giving a clean chit to the ISI? Only he can answer that. Is he under someone else's influence? Did someone instruct him to issue a statement of this nature?" Chadha said, calling Mann's remarks "a pro-Pakistan and anti-India statement."
Chadha also stated that "a democratically elected Chief Minister ought to refrain from making such statements; instead, he should assess the law and order situation in his state and focus his efforts on how to strengthen it, how to apprehend those behind this bomb blast, and how to bring this investigation to a logical conclusion."
BJP MP Ashok Mittal Calls for Centre-State Coordination
BJP MP Ashok Mittal also condemned the incidents, stressing that such acts of violence are a matter of national concern. "In any part of the country, if there is an incident of extremism, be it a blast or something like that, first of all, we should condemn it, and I condemn it wholeheartedly. This should not have happened. It is a concern for the security of the country," Mittal told IANS.
He called for coordinated action between the Centre and the state government. "I hope that both governments will work together to find a solution to this problem," he added.
Security Tightened Across Punjab
The twin blasts in Amritsar and Jalandhar have heightened security concerns in Punjab, a sensitive border state. Security agencies have reportedly intensified surveillance and investigations in the aftermath. This comes amid a broader pattern of low-intensity blast incidents that have periodically unsettled Punjab's security landscape in recent years.
The political exchanges over accountability and the source of the threat are expected to intensify as investigations progress and official findings are made public.
Point of View
And every law-and-order flashpoint is an opportunity. That said, the reported contradiction between the Punjab DGP's ISI assessment and the Chief Minister's public statements is a substantive governance question that deserves scrutiny beyond party lines. A border state with Punjab's history cannot afford ambiguity in its official narrative on external threats. If the DGP's findings are credible, the CM's public remarks warrant urgent clarification — not just political rebuke.
NationPress
11 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Punjab blasts in Amritsar and Jalandhar?
Twin bomb blasts occurred in Punjab's Amritsar and Jalandhar, triggering heightened security concerns in the border state. Security agencies have reportedly intensified investigations and surveillance in the aftermath.
What did BJP MP Raghav Chadha say about CM Bhagwant Mann?
Chadha accused CM Bhagwant Singh Mann of contradicting the Punjab DGP's findings, which allegedly pointed to Pakistan's ISI involvement. He called Mann's remarks a 'pro-Pakistan and anti-India statement' and questioned whether the Chief Minister was acting under external influence.
What is the Punjab DGP's assessment of the blasts?
According to BJP MP Raghav Chadha, the Punjab DGP concluded, based on forensic assessments and preliminary inquiries, that Pakistan's ISI was behind the blast incidents. This claim has not been independently verified in the source material.
What did BJP MP Ashok Mittal say about the blasts?
Ashok Mittal condemned the blasts as a national security concern and called for coordinated action between the Centre and the Punjab state government to address the situation effectively.
Why is Punjab considered a sensitive state in the context of these blasts?
Punjab shares a border with Pakistan, making it particularly vulnerable to cross-border security threats. The state has a history of militancy and low-intensity blast incidents, which makes any such event a matter of heightened national concern.
