Chandigarh, In a recent development, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann criticized BJP’s state president, Sunil Jakhar, for justifying the rejection of the state’s tableau for the Republic Day parade. Accusing Jakhar of being ‘more loyal than the king,’ Mann stated that Jakhar was spreading false information to defend the central government’s decision.
The chief minister accused Jakhar of misleading the public by claiming that the state government’s tableaus had pictures of Punjab’s chief minister. Mann emphasized that this was a fabrication by Jakhar, now exposed by the Ministry of Defence, which clarified that there were no such images in the tableau.
Designed by the state government, the tableau aimed to showcase Punjab’s rich cultural heritage, along with its tradition of sacrifice and martyrdom. Mann criticized the BJP-led central government for rejecting the tableau, accusing them of undermining the significant sacrifices made by Punjabis in the national freedom struggle.
Mann labeled the central government as ‘power-mad,’ engaging in tactics to humiliate Punjab. He expressed disappointment with individuals like Jakhar, who, in Mann’s view, blindly justify the Modi government’s decisions without considering the state’s interests.
Highlighting Jakhar’s recent entry into the BJP, Mann suggested that Jakhar is still adapting to reading scripts prepared by the party’s high command.
The controversy over the Republic Day tableau continues, raising questions about political motivations and the representation of states in national celebrations.
