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A dispute has erupted between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Punjab, following the rejection of the state's tableau for the Republic Day parade. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann accused the BJP-led Centre of removing Punjab from the national anthem by excluding the tableau. In response, Punjab BJP Chief Sunil Jakhar alleged that the AAP government politicized the issue by insisting on featuring photos of Mann and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal on the tableau.

BJP claims AAP insisted on photos

Jakhar contended that the rejection was due to the AAP government's insistence on including photos of Kejriwal and Mann, violating protocol. He accused the AAP of disregarding historical norms, stating that no chief minister had previously placed their picture on a tableau.

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AAP denies allegations

Responding to Jakhar's claims, AAP's Punjab spokesperson, Malvinder Singh Kang, refuted the allegations, asserting that there were no photos of Mann and Kejriwal on the tableau. Kang criticized Jakhar's statements and accused previous chief ministers of neglecting Punjab's heritage.

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Jakhar argued that the rejection was not unusual, citing instances over the past 17 years where Punjab's tableau was excluded. Despite the explanations, the controversy continues, with AAP accusing Jakhar of dishonesty and the BJP emphasizing the need to prioritize heritage over political narratives.