Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Sunday rejected the Centre's proposal to display the state's tableau at Bharat Parv in Red Fort. Notably, the Central government has not included Punjab's tableau in the Republic Day Parade 2024. Mann said that Punjab's tableau will not be showcased in a "rejected category".

After the Punjab's category could not make it to the Republic Day parade in Delhi, the Defence Ministry invited the state government to display the tableau during Bharat Parv from January 23 to 31.

Mann, in his X post, said that the state government would not send the sacrifices of our Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev, Lala Lajpat Rai, Udham Singh, Mai Bhago...Kartar Singh Sarabha...Gadri Baba and Maharaja Ranjit Singh ji to the "rejected categories". "these are our heroes. ..we know how to respect them...no need of BJP's NOC," he added.

Along with his post, the Punjab CM also shared the letter of the Defence Ministry asking the state government to send the tableau for the Bharat Parv.

"It is further informed that as per para-8 of the ibid MoU, the tableau of your State/UT has been invited to be displayed in Bharat-Parv to be organized at the Red Fort, New Delhi during 23-31 January, 2024," the letter read.

The controversy erupted after the Centre did not include Punjab's tableau in the Republic Day parade at Rajpath.

Mann attacked the Centre over the decision not to include Punjab's tableau in the Republic Day parade.

On Wednesday Mann attacked the BJP government at the Centre for not including the state's tableau in the Republic Day parade yet again. He termed it a step towards removing the word "Punjab" from the national anthem.

(With inputs from agencies)