Bharatiya Janata Party national general secretary Tarun Chugh on Thursday sent a legal notice to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann over his remarks allegedly linking the BJP to recent blast incidents in Punjab. Chugh accused Mann of trying to “tarnish the reputation, credibility and public standing” of the BJP through his statements.

The legal notice demanded that Mann immediately withdraw his remarks and issue a public apology through print, electronic and social media platforms. It also asked him to avoid making any further “defamatory or inflammatory” statements against the BJP or its leaders in the future.

The notice further warned that if the Punjab chief minister failed to comply within seven days, legal action would follow. According to the notice, this could include criminal prosecution for defamation, proceedings related to spreading false information, and civil action seeking damages for reputational harm caused to the party.

The political row began after back-to-back blast incidents were reported in Amritsar and Jalandhar on Wednesday, creating panic in Punjab and triggering a sharp exchange between the ruling Aam Aadmi Party and the BJP.

Reacting to the incidents, Mann accused the BJP of creating unrest in states ahead of elections. “This is BJP’s way of working in any state where they want to contest elections, they first create riots, carry out small blasts, and divide people on the basis of religion and caste,” Mann had said.

“This is BJP’s election preparation... Law and order will be maintained and the guilty will be given strict punishment. I want to tell BJP that Punjab has seen many dark days, and now Punjabis will not tolerate this,” he added.

In the legal notice issued through advocate Sanket Gupta, Chugh described Mann’s remarks as “highly irresponsible, false, defamatory, and inflammatory”. The notice stated that the allegations were made “without any credible evidence whatsoever”.

It further said that Mann’s statement directly or indirectly accused the BJP of being involved in violent incidents. According to the notice, the remarks amounted to “an allegation of the gravest nature made with reckless disregard for truth”.

The notice also argued that the chief minister’s comments went against the position taken by Punjab Police and the state’s director general of police. Officials had earlier indicated that the incidents appeared to be linked to a larger “proxy war” involving foreign hostile elements and alleged ISI-backed networks.

Defending the BJP, the notice described the party as a “nationalist political party committed to the sovereignty, integrity, and security of India”. It also said the BJP has consistently maintained a “zero-tolerance policy against terrorism”.

The notice claimed that Mann’s remarks had caused “serious reputational damage” to the BJP and hurt “millions of supporters and workers” associated with the party across the country.

It further accused Mann of spreading misinformation and harming democratic discourse. “Your statement is patently false, politically motivated, defamatory per se, and to tarnish the reputation, credibility, and public standing of BJP and its leadership,” the notice stated.

Chugh also alleged that the chief minister’s remarks could lead to public unrest and may attract penal consequences under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.

The controversy erupted after two separate incidents were reported in Punjab on Wednesday. In Amritsar, a suspected explosion took place late at night near the Khasa cantonment area. Police and Army teams immediately rushed to the location after hearing the blast.

Aditya S Warrier said bomb disposal squads and forensic teams were deployed at the site to investigate the matter. Authorities are still trying to confirm the exact number of blasts and determine the cause of the incident. Samples from the location have been sent for forensic examination. No injuries were reported in the incident.

Security agencies, including forensic teams, bomb squads and dog squads, cordoned off both locations and launched detailed investigations into the matter.

The incidents came only days after an attempted blast on a railway track in Rajpura in Patiala district on April 27. In that case, the accused died during the attempt itself. The recent incidents have raised fresh security concerns in the border state.

Opposition parties also criticised the AAP government over the law-and-order situation in Punjab. Bikram Singh Majithia from the Shiromani Akali Dal called the incidents “serious” and accused the state government of making political statements before investigations had been completed.

Leaders from both the BJP and Congress also questioned the Punjab government over alleged security lapses and demanded stronger steps to restore public confidence. Police officials said investigations into both incidents are still underway, and more details are expected after forensic reports are examined.