Punjab's Republic Day Tableau Rejected By Centre To Be Paraded Across State: Bhagwant Mann

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday said Punjab's Republic Day tableau rejected by the Centre will be paraded across the state after January 26.

Mr Mann said the tableau depicts the contributions of freedom fighters like Bhagat Singh, Udham Singh, and Lala Lajpat Rai.

He had last month hit out at the BJP-led central government over the non-inclusion of the state's tableau for the Republic Day parade, alleging the Centre has discriminated against the state. The Centre had rejected the accusation.

Addressing a gathering after handing over appointment letters to 520 clerks-cum-data entry operators in the Punjab State Cooperative Bank here, Mr Mann reiterated that the Centre insulted "great martyrs" like Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev, Lala Lajpat Rai, Udham Singh, and others by rejecting the state's tableau for the Republic Day parade.

"It (tableau) will be shown across Punjab after January 26," said Mr Mann.

Mr Mann alleged that the Union government was trying to belittle the contribution and sacrifice of these heroes by not including the state's tableau in the parade.

This cannot be tolerated as it is a "grave insult" to these great patriots and national leaders, Mr Mann said, adding that these leaders do not need a certificate of nationalism from the BJP-led Union government.

In an apparent reference to Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar for his remarks over the state tableau, Mr Mann said "such leaders" are becoming a stumbling block in the state's progress.

Mr Jakhar had accused Mr Mann of politicising the non-inclusion of the state's tableau for the Republic Day parade and alleged that the AAP government insisted that the tableau carried his and party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal's photos and this was one of the reasons why it was rejected.

Mr Mann said the traditional parties are envious of him because he hails from a common family and is working "tirelessly" to ensure the welfare of people.

Referring to rival party leaders, Mr Mann said they believe that they have a divine right to rule the state due to which they are not able to digest that a common man is running the state efficiently.

He said these leaders "befooled" the people for a long time but now the people are not getting swayed by their misleading propaganda.

Gone are the days when a head of state ruled from his palace, now he is always amongst the people, said Mr Mann.

Mr Mann also said that the state has created history by purchasing the GVK power plant in Goindwal.

For the first time, a reverse trend has started and the government has purchased a private power plant whereas in the past, the state governments used to sell their assets to their favourite individuals at "throwaway" prices, he said.

As coal from the Pachwara coal mine can only be used for government power plants, the GVK plant can be utilised for producing power to provide it to every sector of the state, he added.

Mr Mann said a complete transformation is being witnessed in the hospitals and schools in the state while new medical colleges are coming up for the well-being of the common man.

These decisions are being taken only by those who are aware of the problems of the people at grassroots levels.

Mr Mann said the traditional political parties have ruined the state and now they are shamelessly talking about morality.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)