AAP accuses BJP of ‘politicising’ Jalandhar grenade attack

CHANDIGARH: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab president Aman Arora on Tuesday accused BJP state president Sunil Jakhar of politicising the grenade attack at former BJP minister Manoranjan Kalia's residence in Jalandhar. He added that if BJP leaders cared for Punjab, why was Lawrence Bishnoi being “protected” in a Gujarat jail.
Speaking to media persons, Arora alleged that Jakhar was making “baseless allegations” against the AAP govt and Punjab Police, dubbing the charges as “irresponsible and politically motivated.”
Giving details of the action taken by the Punjab police in investigating the case, Arora said that within 12 hours of the attack, the police identified and arrested two culprits. The initial investigation revealed that the attack was masterminded 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 Jakhar of trying to “defame” the Punjab govt 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 said.
The AAP leader further highlighted the BJP's pattern of politicising 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 alleged that the BJP govt 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 was allowed to freely issue threats and orchestrate crimes, raising serious questions about the BJP’s intent and accountability, he said.
Arora added, “Zeeshan Akhtar, whose name surfaced in multiple cases, 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,” he added.