By The BuckStopper Reporter
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann asserted that the state's tableau, rejected for the Republic Day parade, would not be relegated to a “rejected category” and showcased at Bharat Parv in Red Fort. The Defence Ministry had extended an invitation to Punjab for displaying the tableau during Bharat Parv from January 23 to 31 after it faced exclusion from the Republic Day parade in Delhi. Chief Minister Mann, in a statement, emphasized that the heroic figures like Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev, Lala Lajpat Rai, Udham Singh, Kartar Singh Sarabha, Mai Bhago, and others should not be treated as rejected. He accused the Union government of diminishing their contributions by omitting their tableaus from the Republic Day parade.
Responding to Mann's allegations, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) rejected claims of discrimination and clarified that Punjab's tableau failed to align with the broader themes for this year's parade. The MoD stated that the proposal underwent consideration in the initial three rounds but couldn't progress further due to a misalignment with the designated themes.
Chief Minister Mann announced that the state would feature the rejected tableaus in various functions across Punjab on January 26, aiming to honor the rich legacy of the state. In response to Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar's assertion about past instances of exclusion, Mann challenged Jakhar to substantiate his claims regarding the AAP government's insistence on displaying Mann and Arvind Kejriwal's photos on the state's tableau.
The state had submitted three tableau proposals, focusing on the history of sacrifice and martyrdom, highlighting Mai Bhago's role in Sikhism (women empowerment), and showcasing Punjab's diverse heritage. Despite the rejection for the Republic Day parade, Chief Minister Mann remains determined to celebrate and uphold the significant contributions of Punjab's heroes.
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