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Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on the BJP-led Union Government for rejecting the state's tableau for the Republic Day parade the next year. Accusing the “power-mad” Centre of demeaning and humiliating the sacrifices made by Punjabis in the national freedom struggle, Mann announced that these rejected tableaus would be showcased in Republic Day functions across the State with a ‘Rejected by Centre’ tag.
 
Mann expressed deep disappointment over the second consecutive year of Punjab’s tableau exclusion from the Republic Day parade. “We have done all formalities in advance as required by any state. However, we got a letter today from the Centre informing us that Punjab’s tableau won’t be part of the Republic Day parade,” he declared.
 
“This year, the Centre had written a letter to the state asking our willingness regarding the state's tableau...On August 4, 2023, we wrote a letter of willingness and also mentioned that not just in January 2024, but for 2025 and 2026 also, we expressed our willingness that our tableau be included…But, we received the letter today morning that our tableau has been rejected for this year again,” said Mann.
 
The Chief Minister accused the Centre of favoring BJP-ruled states in the selection of tableaux, pointing out that most of the 20 states whose tableaux were approved are BJP-ruled. Even AAP-ruled Delhi’s tableau has allegedly not been approved, he added.
 
We proposed three tableaux from Punjab for shortlisting and even gave them designs for this, and our officers also held three meetings in this regard with the Centre, said the Chief Minister.
 
Displaying pictures of the three tableaux prepared by the state’s Information and Public Relations Department, Mann expressed his dismay, stating, “It is disheartening to see how the Modi-led BJP Government at the Centre is out to finish Punjab from the cultural scenario of India.”
 
Mann, addressing the media, emphasized that the rejection is part of a larger strategy to erase opposition-ruled states’ cultural representation. He accused the Centre of “saffronization” and “politicization” of Republic Day and Independence Day, challenging state BJP leaders to clarify their stance on what he termed an “anti-Punjab move” by their masters.
 
The Chief Minister highlighted the three proposed tableaux for Punjab — ‘Punjab Kurbaniya ate Shahadatan Da Itihaas’, showcasing the history of sacrifice and martyrdom; ‘Nari Shakti – Mai Bhago’, depicting the first lady warrior of Sikhism and promoting women’s empowerment; and ‘Punjab da Ameer Virsa te Odi Peshkari’, celebrating the rich heritage of Punjab.
 
Mann accused the Modi Government of undermining the immense contributions of Punjab to the nation’s development and freedom struggle. The rejection was a deliberate attempt to humiliate the state, especially during the days when the world pays homage to the sacrifices of chotta Sahibzadas Baba Zorawar Singh and Baba Fateh Singh, along with Mata Gujri ji, he said.
 
Expressing his commitment to highlight Punjab’s heritage, Mann declared that even if the Centre omits Punjab from the Republic Day parade, the State Government will include the “rejected tableaux” in all functions held across Punjab on January 26. He criticized the BJP-led NDA Government for its “anti-Punjab syndrome” and vowed to confront the injustice meted out to the state.
 
The Chief Minister denounced the Centre's actions against Punjab, citing stalled funds for Aam Aadmi Clinics, Rural Development Funds, and the Mukh Mantri Teerth Yatra Scheme. Despite these challenges, Mann asserted that the State Government is working tirelessly to make Punjab self-reliant.
 
Also slamming the Centre, Punjab’s Tourism and Culture Affairs Minister Anmol Gagan Maan asked if an attempt is being made to erase the history. “Disheartened to witness the exclusion of Punjab's tableau from the Republic Day parade. Are we erasing the rich tapestry of our diverse history? This decision deserves scrutiny. Is it now a parade of select narratives, leaving the sacrifices of our heroes in the shadows?” wrote Anmol Gagan on X (formerly Twitter).
 
Also expressing disappointment, Power Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO said that the Centre has done gross injustice by removing Punjab's tableaux. “Punjab is the land of martyrs and it has made exemplary contributions in every field for the progress and prosperity of the country, but the BJP Government at the centre has done a gross injustice by removing the tableaus of Punjab on Republic Day,” he posted on X.