In a bold and resolute stand against the rejection of Punjab state’s tableau for the 2024 Republic Day parade, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Sunday announced that the state’s depiction of national heroes would not be relegated to any “rejected category”. His strong words came in response to the Ministry of Defence's (MoD) dismissal of allegations of “discrimination” and a subsequent invitation to showcase the tableau during Bharat Parv at the Red Fort.
The controversy began when the Union Ministry of Defence on Sunday refuted Mann's criticism of the BJP-led Central Government as “baseless”, which had excluded Punjab’s tableau from the Republic Day parade in 2024. The Ministry firmly rejected the claims, stating that Punjab's proposal failed to meet the required standards and did not align with the broader themes of this year’s tableau.
Despite the MoD's clarification, Mann remained steadfast in his refusal to participate in Bharat Parv, stating that the martyrs of the country, including Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev, and Lala Lajpat Rai, do not require a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) from the BJP. Mann emphasized that their sacrifices should not be relegated to a “rejected category”, asserting that the Centre is attempting to diminish their contribution and sacrifice.
Earlier in the day, the Defence Ministry, in its statement, outlined the well-established system for selecting tableaux, where proposals are evaluated by an ‘Expert Committee’ comprising eminent persons in the fields of art, culture, painting, sculpture, music, architecture and choreography among others.
It pointed out that Punjab's tableau was considered in the first three rounds but did not proceed further due to misalignment with the parade’s broader themes. The Ministry pointed out that out of 30 willing participants, only 15-16 states are ultimately chosen for the Republic Day Parade, ensuring equal treatment.
The Centre, in its defense, also highlighted the historical shortlisting of Punjab’s tableau, which had occurred six times in the last eight years. The Ministry further pointed out that Punjab, along with Delhi, had signed an MoU with the Government of India, agreeing to display their tableau in the Republic Day parade “in one of the three years starting from January 26, 2024…Hence, their criticism of not being selected this year (2024) is not objective and unfounded”.
“As states have to be treated equally, it is essential that states should be given the opportunity to display their tableaus as per a formula. Government of India is preparing a three-year programme covering all states/UTs which will be shared with all the States/UTs. Hence, the criticism by these states is baseless,” added the Ministry.
However, Mann maintained that the State does not need the Union Government's support to pay tribute to its heroes and accused the Government of attempting to belittle the sacrifices of these great patriots and national leaders.
“The state will not send its tableaus as the martyrs of the country don’t need NOC of BJP…Punjab knows how to respect the patriots and martyrs. These are the heroes of the country and the entire country is indebted to them for their supreme sacrifices made for the nation. The state government doesn't need support from the Union Government to showcase their heroes, rather it is capable enough to pay tributes to them,” said Mann.
