Punjab BJP working president Ashwani Sharma on Thursday termed Wednesday’s blast outside the party’s headquarters in Chandigarh an unfortunate incident and blamed forces hostile to peace and communal harmony in Punjab for carrying out what he described as a cowardly act.
He also criticised Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann over the prevailing law and order situation in the state and related the attack to a series of grenade attacks outside police stations and other recent incidents.
The explosion took place around 5 pm on Wednesday when a suspected crude explosive device was thrown near the party office, officials said. No casualties were reported, but the incident caused panic in the surrounding area.
Speaking to mediapersons, Sharma referred to an unverified video circulating on social media that allegedly shows a man pulling the pin of a blue-coloured grenade and throwing it while another person records the act.
He claimed that the video suggests the attacker intended to throw the grenade inside the BJP office building. However, the explosive reportedly landed outside, after which another individual was heard abusing the attacker for missing the target.
Earlier in the day, Sharma visited the blast site outside the party headquarters and expressed relief that no one was injured in the incident. "There are many workers in this office. Senior party leaders also stay here as there is a residential area here as well," he said.
Sharma said the exact motive behind the blast would become clear only after the investigation is completed. Sharma is also the MLA from Pathankot. He further informed that personnel from Punjab Police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) have been deployed at the BJP office following the incident.
The Punjab BJP leader reiterated that his party stands for peace and communal harmony in the state.
"I feel that the BJP's increasing strength and acceptability of the party and Prime Minister Narendra Modi among every section of the society was not being digested by many people, especially the current government," he added.
Sharma also referred to Modi’s visit to Dera Sachkhand Ballan in February, Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s rally in Moga in March, and the recent joining of senior advocate and former MLA H S Phoolka in the BJP as indicators of the party’s expanding presence.
"I feel that such forces which want to break Punjab, those forces which are against brotherhood in the state, did the cowardly act outside the BJP office yesterday," he said.
Listing past incidents, Sharma cited the rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) attack on the police intelligence headquarters, multiple grenade attacks outside police stations, a blast at BJP leader Manoranjan Kalia’s residence, the murder of singer Sidhu Moosewala, vandalism of a statue of B R Ambedkar, and other events to highlight what he described as the deteriorating law and order situation in Punjab.
Also read: CM Mann takes swipe at Phoolka over joining BJP
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