Republic Day: CM Bhagwant Mann targets Centre over rejected Punjab tableau

Ludhiana, January 27

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday once again hit out at the BJP-led Union Government over the non-inclusion of the state’s tableau in the Republic Day parade in Delhi. This was showcased in Ludhiana where Mann unfurled the Tricolour.

As the CM was addressing the Republic Day function here, members of various employees’ and farmers’ unions held protest demonstrations in different parts of the city and elsewhere in the district to press for their respective demands.

Mann said the Republic Day cannot be imagined without a state that has made countless sacrifices for the motherland. Taking pride in the tableau, which was “rejected” by the Centre and showcased in the Republic Day parade in Ludhiana, Mann asked the gathering, “Is there anything wrong in it?”

The CM had earlier accused the Centre of rejecting the tableau of his state because of the BJP’s “anti-Punjab syndrome” while the Centre had rejected as “baseless” Mann’s criticism of the Centre and his allegations of discrimination.

In Ludhiana, Mann said Punjabis made countless sacrifices for the motherland, fought wars and were at the forefront of the country’s freedom struggle. “But it is sad when Punjab’s tableau is not included in the Republic Day parade. Just now, we have taken out this tableau here before you. Is there anything in it which is odd?” he asked the gathering.

The CM also announced that the state government has decided to name the upcoming airport at the Indian Air Force station in Ludhiana’s Halwara as Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha International Airport.

Inspecting the parade, Mann took the salute from an impressive march past by contingents of the Punjab Police, Punjab Home Guards, Punjab Armed Police, NCC cadets and the Punjab Police’ brass band.

Later, Mann awarded the CM’s medals for outstanding devotion to duty to 14 police personnel, ranging between the level of SSP and constable. The awardees included Jalandhar SSP Mukhwinder Singh, RTC Commandant Mandeep Singh, DSP Gursher Singh Sandhu, Inspectors Harwinder Singh and Simaerjeet Singh, Sub-Inspectors Sukhwinder Singh, Bhupinder Singh, Major Singh, Jasjit Singh, Gurwinder Singh, Gurmukh Singh and Amandeep Verma, Assistant Sub-Inspector Mahinder Pal Singh and senior constable Prabhdeep Singh.