Like some years in the past, in 2024 too Panjab’s tableau has not been included in the Republic Day parade. Unlike earlier, this time, on 28 Dec 2023, Panjab CM Mann hit out at the BJP-led central government and alleged the Center has discriminated against the state. He added both AAP government states – Panjab and Delhi – have been rejected. While India has 28 states and 8 union territories, there are only 15 slots for tableaux in the parade. It is common for a state to miss a chance for content or design reasons. However, under the current regime, the decisions could also be political. There could be a bias towards BJP-run states. In the past Bengal and Kerala have also been rejected. The state BJP President Sunil Jakhar responded saying AAP had planned to carry pictures of Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann, hence the selection committee had rejected the tableau. Delhi AAP minister Saurabh Bharadwaj called it an act of ‘revenge.’ The Centre hit back with allegations similar to Jakhar’s views. Mann replied. ‘We will station the tableau at Panjab Bhawan on 20 Jan 2024 and will parade it on Delhi’s streets.’ On 31 Dec 2023, Union Water Minister Gajendra Shekhawat said PM Modi conceptualized the Bharat Parv (Festival of India) platform at the Red Fort from 26-31 Jan 2024 to showcase those tableaux which could not make it to the Republic Day parade. He invited Panjab to participate in Bharat Parv.
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