Jalandhar (Punjab) [India], April 15 (HBTV): Following a blast reported outside the residence of BJP leader Manoranjan Kalia in Jalandhar, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini criticised the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab, calling it a failure and stating that the public is waiting for elections.

‘It is an unfortunate incident. Punjab has also faced this in the past. It is the government's responsibility to maintain law and order. This is the failure of the government. Law and order have collapsed in Punjab. There is an atmosphere of fear in Punjab. The people are waiting for the elections,’ said Saini.

In response to allegations that the attack was orchestrated by gangster Lawrence Bishnoi—currently lodged in Sabarmati Central Jail in Gujarat, a BJP-ruled state—Saini stated that if AAP believes Bishnoi is involved, then it should take appropriate action.

Special DGP Arpit Shukla provided details on the investigation, stating that two people have been arrested and that the incident was an attempt to disturb communal harmony in the state.

‘Last night at 1 am, a hand grenade was hurled outside the house of BJP leader Manoranjan Kalia in Jalandhar. Punjab Police has cracked the case in 12 hours. Two people have been arrested, and the auto-rickshaw used in the crime has also been confiscated. It was a major incident intended to disturb communal harmony. As per the initial investigation, this was a major conspiracy of Pakistan's ISI. Zeeshan Akhtar, a close associate of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, was the mastermind of the case. Our teams are conducting raids at different locations, and we are also in touch with central agencies. A major operation has been launched,’ he said.

Shukla also confirmed that potential links to Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) are under investigation and that the case is being pursued with scientific methods.

Earlier, BJP leader Sudhanshu Trivedi expressed concern over the law and order situation in Punjab, claiming the state government has become a ‘disaster’.

‘Since the Aam Aadmi Party came to power in Punjab, serious concerns have been raised regarding the law and order situation. A few days after this government took charge, Sidhu Moosewala was murdered. Since then, the rising influence of criminals, separatists and increasing incidents of crimes and murders have become deeply alarming,’ said Trivedi.

He also criticised Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, questioning the state's intelligence response.

‘The way our leader Manoranjan Kalia's residence was attacked shows that the current AAP government in Punjab has become “AAP-DA”. It is truly astonishing that Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann claims to know everything happening in Congress Party meetings in Delhi, implying that his intelligence agencies are capable of tracking the internal affairs of opposition parties. In such a major city, a grenade attack is carried out on the house of a senior party leader, and the government remains completely unaware,’ he said.

Union Minister Ravneet Bittu also met Manoranjan Kalia following the incident and remarked that an atmosphere of fear prevails in Punjab.

(ANI)