Chandigarh, May 6 (IANS) The Opposition in Punjab on Wednesday slammed the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government as two back-to-back blasts rocked the state within three hours, first in Jalandhar and then Amritsar, alleging a collapse of law and order.

However, no casualty has been reported. Sources said a team from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) is heading to Jalandhar and Amritsar to gather more information about the incident and assist the police in the investigation.

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President, Sukhbir Badal, said there were three blasts in 10 days, two in a single day – one in Jalandhar outside the Border Security Force (BSF) headquarters and the second in Amritsar in the Army area. Previously there was a blast on April 27 near the Rajpura rail track.

“Continued Intelligence failures and collapse of law and order are a matter of grave concern. Chief Minister @BhagwantMann, who is also the state Home Minister, is busy in mimicry and cheap politics. He has forfeited the right to remain in office,” wrote former state Home Minister Badal on X, adding, “Punjab earned peace after decades of struggle. Over two dozen blasts under this @AamAadmiParty regime are pushing the state back into dark days.”

Joining the issue, SAD firebrand leader Bikram Singh Majithia termed the incidents “serious” and accused the authorities of rushing to conclusions without a thorough probe, suggesting a possible cover-up.

Both blast-like incidents within hours of each other triggered panic. In Amritsar, a suspected explosion was reported around 10:50 P.M. near the Khasa cantonment area. Hours before the Amritsar incident, a scooter parked outside the Border Security Force (Punjab Frontier) headquarters in Jalandhar caught fire with locals claiming they heard a loud blast-like sound.

In a series of posts on X, Akali leader Majithia claimed that CCTV footage of the Khasa blast has now “completely exposed the hollow claims of the government”. “The explosion was so powerful that walls of nearby houses shook and panic spread across the entire area, yet a temporary DGP continues to sell the fake narrative that ‘everything is under control’.”

“First, the blast was shamelessly covered up as a ‘scooty fire’ incident. Now, repeated CCTV footage is tearing apart every lie and every PR stunt of this failed government.”

He claimed that both blasts happened outside BSF establishments, Army and paramilitary installations in a sensitive Indo-Pak border state.

“This is not a small lapse, this is a terrifying collapse of security and Intelligence coordination. To the shock of Punjabis, this is a complete Intelligence failure. Every stakeholder appears to be in deep hibernation while the security of a border state is being pushed to the edge.”

Former Cabinet minister Majithia said, “When even sensitive areas like Khasa, BSF zones and railway tracks are no longer safe, what security is left for ordinary Punjabis?

“Anti-national elements are openly spreading terror, releasing statements and challenging the system, while the state government looks helpless, clueless and busy in cover ups.

“Punjab is watching. Punjab is asking — is there any governance left beyond PR videos, false narratives and damage control?” he added.

Leader of Opposition and Congress legislator Partap Singh Bajwa said back-to-back blasts in a single day cannot be brushed aside as coincidence.

“At a time when several conspiracy theories are circulating and fear is spreading among the general public, the administration cannot afford silence or complacency. Punjab has already been grappling with serious challenges like youth unemployment and lack of opportunities,” he said.

“Punjab cannot afford another phase of instability. Maintaining law and order and restoring public confidence must be the government’s top priority,” Bajwa added.

–IANS

vg/rad