Union government rejects Punjab’s allegations on Republic day tableau issue
The verbal clash between the AAP government in Punjab and the BJP-led central government regarding the cancellation of Punjab’s tableau for the Republic Day parade has escalated. Today, the Union Defence Ministry clarified that a committee of experts, encompassing distinguished figures from various artistic domains such as art, culture, painting, sculpture, music, architectural arts, and choreography, had evaluated Punjab’s tableau in the initial three rounds.
The Punjab tableau didn’t advance for further consideration as it didn’t align with this year’s overarching theme. Conversely, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann stated that the central government, steeped in the arrogance of power, is disrespecting the significant sacrifices made by Punjabis during the country’s freedom struggle.
Meanwhile, sources revealed that the Central government penned a letter to the Punjab government, assuring that the tableaux from states excluded from the Republic Day parade, including Punjab, would feature in the ‘Bharat Parv’ at the Red Fort from January 23 to 31. Despite this, the Punjab government declined to send a tableau for ‘Bharat Parv’, citing insult to the state’s freedom fighters due to the Centre’s cancellation.
In a tweet on X, Mann emphasized, “We embody our heroes — Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev, Lala Lajpat Rai, Udham Singh, Mai Bhago, Kartar Sarabha — refusing to relegate the sacrifices of Ghadri Baba and Maharaja Ranjit Singh ji to rejected categories. We honor them earnestly without requiring BJP’s approval.”