Fix chinks in security apparatus instead of targeting Oppn: Cong

Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring on Sunday attacked Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, saying he should focus on fixing shortcomings in the state intelligence apparatus instead of targeting Opposition leaders for flagging their failure in preventing grenade blasts.

The statement came as a police team quizzed Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly Partap Singh Bajwa over his “50-bombs-have-reached-Punjab” claim on a private news channel. After meeting party workers here, Warring questioned the state intelligence apparatus’ failure to act “despite having inputs from the Intelligence Bureau (IB) of a possible attack on a Hindu leader”.

Referring to the grenade attack on BJP leader Manoranjan Kalia’s house in Jalandhar in the wee hours on April 8, he said despite the inputs, the state intelligence wing failed to stay alert. He accused the CM of failing to manage the state’s security apparatus and said, “Instead of threatening Opposition leaders, he should focus on fixing his own intelligence wing.”

Warring said the Bajwa’s statement was “based on newspaper reports, which clearly mentioned that of 50 bombs, whereabouts of nine were still unknown”.

He said 18 grenade blasts have already taken place in the state in recent months. “Hence, the police intelligence agencies must stay vigilant and the Chief Minister should focus on strengthening his department instead of attacking political opponents,” he added.

Punjab