BJP leaders, led by Jalandhar district BJP president Sushil Sharma, on Friday staged a protest outside the office of the Commissioner of Police against Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann over his statements blaming the BJP for recent blasts in Jalandhar and Amritsar. The party also submitted a complaint to the Police Commissioner, demanding the registration of an FIR against the Chief Minister on charges of sedition, alleging that his remarks were unsubstantiated, jeopardised the state’s security and defamed the BJP.
BJP leaders with banners and party flags gathered at the DAC Complex in Jalandhar after a march from the Kachehri Chowk to the complex, and protested outside the CP office, indulging in intense sloganeering against the CM and state government. Leaders Sushil Sharma, Manoranjan Kalia, KD Bhandari, Sushil Rinku, Rakesh Rathour, Sarabjit Makkar, Karamjit Kaur, Ramesh Pabbi, among others, held the protest.
In their complaint, the BJP demanded action against the Chief Minister for what it described as “false, inflammatory and defamatory statements” that promote public mischief, communal disharmony and political hostility, and disturb public order.
Addressing the media, senior BJP leader Manoranjan Kalia said the statements made by the Chief Minister and the Director General of Police on the blasts were contradictory. “If the CM’s statement is correct, an FIR should be registered against the BJP. If the DGP’s version is true, then the Chief Minister must be booked,” he said.
Leader Sushil Rinku said, “The CM has levelled serious charges against the BJP. A party which took bold and decisive action against Pakistan in Operation Sindoor is being blamed for blasts in the state. It’s an irresponsible statement, which lowers the dignity of the position he holds. The CM should’ve consulted the DGP. The CM must either prove the BJP’s hand (in blasts) and lodge an FIR against the party or apologise to people of Punjab and country."
The complaint, signed by 13 BJP leaders, alleged that the Chief Minister’s remarks amounted to criminal defamation, spreading misinformation and disturbing communal harmony. It further stated that the statements of the Chief Minister and the DGP on the May 5 blasts at the BSF Frontier Headquarters in Jalandhar and Amritsar were contradictory, indicating lack of coordination and alleged that the statement absolved Pakistan’s ISI, which the police had held responsible.
