"Republic Day not a platform for self-endorsement": Sunil Jakhar on "tableau" row
Dec 28, 2023
Chandigarh (Punjab) [India], December 28 : Punjab Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Sunil Jakhar on Thursday hit out at state Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann amid the "tableau" row, stating that the tableau of Punjab was rejected because of the photographs of Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann inside it and that Republic Day is not a platform for "self-endorsement."
Earlier on Wednesday, the Punjab CM attacked the BJP-led centre after the latter rejected the tableau of the state for the coming Republic Day.
After the Centre rejected Punjab's tableau, Bhagwant Mann said, "Today, the value of the martyrdom of Punjabis by the BJP government at the Centre has been presented to 3 crore Punjabis through the media. This time again the tableau of Punjab was not included in the 26th January parade...we sent 3 subjects... 1. History of Martyrs of Punjabis 2. History of Mai Bhago Ji 3. Priceless heritage of Punjab."
"The decision of the Centre shows how much poison it has in its heart for the people of Punjab," he added.
Meanwhile, Jakhar said, "...The reason for the tableau being rejected is the photographs of Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann inside the tableau. They wanted to install their portraits or statues on the tableau, which was rejected by the ceremonial unit of the central government, which looks after all procedures."
"Republic Day parade is not a platform for self-endorsement or advertisement," he added.
On Wednesday, BJP leader Majinder Singh Sirsa also took potshots at CM Bhagwant Mann claiming that this has been Arvind Kejriwal's "modus operandi" for the past nine years.
This has been Arvind Kejriwal's modus operandi for the last nine years. They send in projects and plans that are likely to be rejected and then cry foul play. And he is making Bhagwant Mann do the same thing in Punjab."
"Even last year, the tableau sent in by the Punjab government was refurbished, which is why it was rejected. The same story was repeated this year... When the final list of tableaus for 20 states was released, Bhagwant Mann immediately called a press conference and started crying foul play," he added.
The centre has rejected the tableaus of Punjab, Delhi and Himachal Pradesh for the upcoming Republic Day.
