New Delhi, 6 May — The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday demanded an apology from Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann after he alleged that the party was behind twin explosions in the state, with Union Minister of State Ravneet Singh Bittu calling Mann an "ISI agent" and warning of legal action if the CM did not retract his remarks.

What CM Mann Alleged

Earlier on Wednesday, Chief Minister Mann claimed that investigations into the blasts were ongoing and directly linked the incidents to the BJP's electoral strategy. "This is part of the BJP's preparations for the elections in Punjab... In whatever state they have to fight elections, they first instigate riots, cause small-scale explosions, orchestrate some infighting, and divide people on the basis of religion and caste. This means that these are the BJP's preparations for Punjab," Mann said.

BJP's Sharp Rebuttal

Speaking to IANS, MoS Bittu dismissed Mann's remarks in pointed terms. "He wouldn't be able to target anyone; he's an alcoholic. With the heat being so intense and given his drinking habits, it may have gone to his head," Bittu said. He added that Mann should "place ice on his head and drink cold water" before making such statements, and called on the Punjab CM to formally apologise. "He is stuck after giving such a statement. Now it remains to be seen how he backtracks from it; if he does not, then we will protest against it and even explore legal options," Bittu warned. He further said, "What the ISI could not do, Bhagwant Mann has done, so by that logic, he too would be an ISI agent."

The Blasts and the ISI Angle

The controversy follows two back-to-back explosions in Jalandhar and Amritsar. Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav stated that Pakistan's ISI reportedly appears to be attempting to disturb the situation in Punjab ahead of Operation Sindoor's first anniversary. The DGP's assessment stands in direct contrast to Mann's allegation, a contradiction that Union Minister Giriraj Singh was quick to highlight. "The police are saying something, the government is saying something else," Singh said, accusing the Punjab government of shielding terrorists.

Other BJP Voices Join the Attack

BJP MP Sambit Patra, addressing a press conference, called Mann's statement "highly condemnable". "Without any investigation report, Bhagwant Mann made such a statement on the direction of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal, just for their political gain," Patra said. Meanwhile, Punjab's Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa described Mann's allegation as a "serious charge" against the BJP, signalling that the political fallout is unlikely to subside quickly.

What Comes Next

The BJP has indicated it will pursue both street protests and legal recourse if Mann does not retract his remarks. With investigations into the Jalandhar and Amritsar blasts still underway and the ISI angle flagged by the state's own DGP, the episode is set to intensify political tensions in Punjab ahead of the next electoral cycle.