Following a blast near the Punjab BJP office in Chandigarh, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann defends his government and reiterates Punjab's claim to the city, sparking a political blame game over law and order.
Hours after a blast outside the Punjab BJP office here on Wednesday evening, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann lashed out at his political rivals for holding him responsible for anything that happens in the Union Territory.
He said whenever he says Chandigarh belongs to Punjab, he is told to stay away from the city's matters.
A "crude" device was hurled at the Punjab BJP headquarters in Chandigarh on Wednesday evening, causing a blast that sent people into panic mode. No casualties were reported.
In an X post, Mann said he was held responsible for several incidents, including Panjab University students' dharna, the protest by farmers' bodies, the BJP-Congress-Akali Dal joint protest, and the extortion bid and blast in Chandigarh.
"But when Bhagwant Mann says that Chandigarh belongs to Punjab, then Bhagwant Mann is a traitor because Chandigarh is related to the Centre, so Bhagwant Mann should stay away from Chandigarh matters. Now, these tricks won't work," the chief minister said.
After Wednesday's blast, state BJP president Sunil Jakhar said the worsening law and order situation in Punjab is now affecting Chandigarh.
"First, there were continuous grenade attacks on police stations in Punjab. Then, recently, a statue of Dr B R Ambedkar was vandalised in Hoshiarpur. And today, the BJP office in Chandigarh was attacked," Jakhar said.
"The government in Punjab has proven unsuccessful in preventing these attacks. As a result, the deteriorating law and order situation in this border state is now beginning to affect Chandigarh," he alleged.
Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) media in-charge Baltej Pannu strongly condemned the blast, calling it deeply unfortunate and condemnable, but criticised the BJP for resorting to an immediate blame game.
He said such reactions are equally condemnable and irresponsible, especially when facts are yet to be fully established.
"The BJP, which has complete administrative control over Chandigarh, must take responsibility instead of shifting blame," he said in a statement.
Pannu reiterated AAP's long-standing demand that Chandigarh be handed over to Punjab, emphasising that the city rightfully belongs to the state, and expressed confidence that the Punjab government would manage and administer Chandigarh in a far more efficient and people-centric manner.
Referring to Chandigarh's identity as the "City Beautiful", Pannu said its current administrative condition under the BJP's control is visible to all.
While AAP does not wish to politicise the blast, he stressed, it is important to highlight governance issues that have affected the city over time.