Chandigarh- Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab President Aman Arora has strongly criticized BJP State President Sunil Jakhar for politicizing the grenade attack at former BJP Minister Manoranjan Kalia's residence in Jalandhar. Addressing a press conference today, Arora condemned the baseless allegations Jakhar leveled against the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government and the Punjab Police, terming them as irresponsible and politically motivated.
Arora detailed the swift action taken by the Punjab Police in investigating the case. Within 12 hours of the attack, the police identified and arrested two culprits, and initial investigation revealed that attack was mastermind by Zeeshan Akhtar. "This exemplary action by the Punjab Police underlines their professionalism and commitment to ensuring Punjab's safety and security, " said Arora.
He accused Sunil Jakhar of attempting to defame the Punjab government and its law enforcement agencies by falsely alleging a breakdown of law and order in the state. "It is shameful that instead of appreciating the quick and efficient police action, Jakhar chose to indulge in baseless propaganda for petty political gains, " Arora remarked.
The AAP leader further highlighted the BJP's pattern of politicizing incidents to create unrest in Punjab. He questioned Jakhar's intent behind such statements, accusing the BJP of repeatedly trying to undermine Punjab's reputation. Arora stated, "The BJP must clarify whether they are with the people of Punjab or against them. Their constant defamation of the state reflects poorly on their commitment to Punjab’s welfare."
Arora also raised serious concerns over the BJP's alleged links with Lawrence Bishnoi. Arora said that the BJP government has deliberately used Section 268(1) of the CrPC to ensure that Lawrence Bishnoi remains lodged in Gujarat’s Sabarmati Jail, where he continues to operate his criminal network with impunity. Despite being under the direct supervision of the BJP-led Central Government, Bishnoi has been allowed to freely issue threats and orchestrate crimes, raising serious questions about the BJP’s intent and accountability.
Arora added, "Zeeshan Akhtar, whose name has surfaced in multiple cases, and this raises significant questions for both the media and the public about Zeeshan's identity. Zeeshan Akhtar is the same individual who was implicated in the murder of Baba Siddique and is now a wanted figure. Furthermore, it was just last month, on March 16, when the house of Jalandhar-based YouTuber Roger Sandhu was attacked, and this attack was openly acknowledged by Pakistan-based gangster Shehzad Bhatti. Bhatti publicly thanked Zeeshan Akhtar for orchestrating the attack. Shehzad Bhatti, who operates under the influence of Pakistan's ISI, has been actively working to disrupt Punjab’s peace and harmony. There is documented evidence of a video conference between Shehzad Bhatti and Lawrence Bishnoi, which was exposed in recent days. These connections clearly reveal a nexus between Zeeshan Akhtar, Shehzad Bhatti, and Lawrence Bishnoi, and Bishnoi is protected by the BJP."
Aman Arora questioned, “If BJP leaders claim to care about Punjab’s safety, why is a dangerous criminal like Bishnoi being protected in Gujarat instead of being subjected to strict measures under the law?” Arora accused the BJP of shielding criminals for political advantage while tarnishing Punjab’s image with baseless allegations.
Aman Arora further highlighted the string of murders, high-profile crimes, and law-and-order failures during the Akali-BJP and Congress governments. He noted that pivotal cases, such as assassination of RSS leaders Ravinder Gosai and Jagdish Gagneja, assassination of Pastor Sultan Masih, attack on Ranjit Singh Dhadrian, murder of two Dera Sacha Sauda Followers Satpal and his son Ramesh, attack on RSS Volunteer Naresh Kumar, murder of Hindu Takht Head Amit Sharma in the broad daylight, murder of Mata Chand Kaur etc. “Both the Akali-BJP and Congress governments failed miserably to provide justice to the victims and their families. Their inability to act against criminals and conspirators reflects their negligence and lack of willpower, ” Arora said. He stressed that under AAP’s leadership, the Bhagwant Mann government has taken decisive steps to restore law and order, unlike previous regimes that fostered an environment of insecurity and impunity.
Refuting Jakhar's claims, Arora stressed that the Mann government remains committed to maintaining law and order in Punjab. He highlighted recent achievements in controlling crime and ensuring public safety, reiterating the government's zero-tolerance policy against those disrupting peace.
Concluding his remarks, Arora urged BJP leaders like Jakhar to act responsibly and prioritize Punjab’s interests over their political agendas. "Sensitive issues like these require cooperation and support from all parties, not irresponsible allegations and attempts to score political points, " he stated.