BJP suffers from 'Anti-Punjab syndrome': Bhagwant Mann attacks Center after R-Day tableau 'rejected'
Bhagwant Mann, while speaking on Republic Day in Ludhiana, said the scenes “rejected” by the Center were included in the parade in the state on Friday.
Republic Day parade: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday lashed out at the BJP-led central government after the state tableau was not included in this year's Republic Day parade in Delhi. Mann asserted that a Republic Day parade is unthinkable without the representation of Punjab, a state that has made countless sacrifices for the nation.
Mann, while speaking on Republic Day in Ludhiana, said the scenes “rejected” by the Center were included in the parade in the state on Friday. The Chief Minister also slammed Center on other issues related to the state.
“Punjab is a very loyal state and a situation should not be created where this loyalty is distrusted,” Mann said.
'Anti-Punjab Syndrome'
Recently, the Prime Minister had said that the Narendra Modi BJP government had rejected his state's tableau due to the Centre's “anti-Punjab syndrome”.
The Center has dismissed Mann's criticism of the BJP-led government for not including the state tableau in the Republic Day parade and his allegations of discrimination as “baseless”.
“Punjab's tableau proposal was considered in the first three rounds of an expert committee meeting. After the third round…the Punjab tableau could not be taken further…as it does not align with the broader themes of this year's tableau,” the Defense Ministry had said in a statement in response to Mann's allegations.
Punjab a land of sacrifices
In his Republic Day a Ludhiana address, Bhagwant Mann said that Punjab is the land of sacrifices and Punjabis have made countless sacrifices for the motherland, fought wars and been at the forefront of the country's freedom struggle.
“But it is sad if the scenes of Punjab are not included in the Republic Day parade. We have just highlighted these tableaus for you here. Is there anything strange in it?” he asked the gathering.
“These tableaux show pictures of our prominent freedom fighters, our rich culture, sacrifices of our brave heroes. Then how can you celebrate and imagine a Republic Day without them?” he said.
I am I think I… ਸਾਡੀਆਂ ਦੀਵਾਲੀਆਂ, I think, I I think I get along well. I think I'm okay with it I think I'm… pic.twitter.com/MeIqFQOtlm
— Bhagwant Mann (@BhagwantMann) January 26, 2024
India's food bowl
The Chief Minister also noted that Punjab is the food source of the nation and meets the food needs of the entire country.
“Our water level has dropped. And then they take cudgels and tell us that they will not give MSP (Minimum Support Price for crops),” Mann said in another salvo as he attacked the Centre.
The chief minister said that Punjab shares a 553-km border with Pakistan and “drones, drugs and weapons continue to enter from there. We must also pay attention in that area.”
“Punjab is a very loyal state. Please do not create such a situation and do not mistrust our loyalty,” he added.
Mann also said he felt anguished by the army for not giving a guard of honor during the last rites of Agniveer Amritpal Singh, who died on October 11 in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Prime Minister later shared news from the personal front and said, “I want to make a personal announcement. I am also expecting the birth of a child in March at my home. My wife Dr Gurpreet is seven months pregnant… Our only wish is that the child, whether a girl or a boy, should be healthy.”
Mann further said that his government is taking several steps to empower women.
“We believe in 'kaam ki rajneeti' and not 'naam ki rajneeti'. We have adopted the model of the (Arvind) Kejriwal government in Punjab too,” Mann added.
(With PTI inputs)