Sangrur: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Thursday held the Centre accountable for the recent blast outside the BJP office in Chandigarh, asserting that law and order in the Union Territory falls under the jurisdiction of the Union Government.

Stating that the Centre administers Chandigarh, Mann said responsibility for the incident lies with Union Home Minister Amit Shah. “If Bhagwant Mann is being held responsible for the incident in Chandigarh, then the Centre should hand over Chandigarh to the Punjab Government instead of evading its duty,” he said.

The Chief Minister accused the BJP of making “baseless and irrelevant statements,” adding that incidents in Chandigarh — including protests and unrest — are often wrongly attributed to the Punjab government.

Criticism of Himachal Govt Over Entry Tax

Mann also targeted the Congress-led Himachal Pradesh government over its decision to impose an entry tax on vehicles, calling it “anti-people and unacceptable.”

Contrasting governance models, he said the AAP government in Punjab is working to reduce the financial burden on citizens, while the Congress government in Himachal is imposing “undue taxes.” He asserted that Punjab would oppose the move “tooth and nail.”

Reiterates Support for Farmers, Aarthiyas

Reaffirming his government’s commitment to the farming community, Mann said Punjab will continue to raise the demands of Aarthiyas (commission agents) with the Centre.

“I will flag their genuine demands with the Government of India. These issues have been raised earlier and will be taken up again to ensure smooth and hassle-free procurement,” he said.

The Chief Minister emphasised that the state government remains committed to safeguarding farmers’ interests and ensuring seamless procurement operations. The remarks were made on the sidelines of an event in Sangrur, where Mann inaugurated a community health centre in Cheema village.