Former Punjab CM's Shocking Revelation Ignites Political Firestorm
Chandigarh has become the epicenter of a major political controversy following explosive remarks made by former Punjab chief minister and senior Congress leader Rajinder Kaur Bhattal during a recent podcast interview. The veteran politician claimed she received what she described as a "very bad proposal" during the 1996-97 period, suggesting that carrying out bomb blasts could help the Congress party regain power in the state.
Bhattal's Stance Against the Controversial Proposal
During the revealing podcast conversation, Bhattal asserted that she stoutly rejected the disturbing offer, making her position clear with the powerful statement: "I will not rule on dead bodies." Her categorical refusal to entertain such extreme measures has brought to light what she describes as a dark chapter in Punjab's political history, though she did not specify who exactly made the proposal beyond mentioning that "some officers" approached her with this suggestion.
Political Reactions and Demands for Investigation
The revelation has triggered immediate and strong reactions from opposition parties across Punjab's political spectrum. Shiromani Akali Dal (Punar Surjit) has taken the lead in demanding a thorough probe into what they term as "dark truths" of the mid-1990s period.
Giani Harpreet Singh, President of SAD Punar Surjit, took to social media platform X to amplify the call for investigation. "Senior Congress leader Bibi Rajinder Kaur made an important revelation in an interview," he posted. "She said that when our government was in power, some officers came and told us that your government could be formed again if a few bomb blasts were carried out on trains and in some markets."
Singh further elaborated on the implications of Bhattal's statement, suggesting that "this implies that the bomb blasts that took place in past years may have been carried out by the bureaucracy to help form governments." He emphasized that this serious matter requires comprehensive investigation to uncover the truth behind these allegations.
Growing Pressure for Full Disclosure
As the controversy gained momentum, Giani Harpreet Singh intensified his demand for complete transparency. In a subsequent social media post, he called for Bhattal to "come forward personally and publicly disclose the names of those officers and advisers" who allegedly suggested carrying out bomb blasts for political gain in Punjab.
The Bharatiya Janata Party's Punjab unit has also entered the fray with strong criticism of the Congress party. Punjab BJP spokesperson Pritpal Singh Baliawal offered a different interpretation of Bhattal's revelation, suggesting that the proposal likely originated from within Congress circles rather than from bureaucratic officers alone.
"The former CM in her revelations says that officers made such a suggestion, but I think it was a suggestion by Congress leaders because Congress was responsible for the dark era in Punjab," Baliawal stated. He went further to characterize the mindset behind such proposals as pointing toward "anti-national activities" that must be thoroughly examined and addressed.
Broader Implications for Punjab Politics
This developing controversy has reopened historical wounds and raised serious questions about political ethics and national security in Punjab. The period Bhattal references - 1996-97 - was a turbulent time in the state's history, making these allegations particularly sensitive and significant.
The demand for an independent commission to investigate these claims reflects growing concerns about transparency in political processes and the need to address historical allegations that continue to resonate in contemporary Punjab politics. As various political stakeholders position themselves around this controversy, the coming days are likely to see intensified debate about accountability, political morality, and the mechanisms needed to investigate serious allegations from past political eras.
