Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin on Monday sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s intervention to have the state’s tableau included in the Republic Day parade, shortly after reports emerged that it has been excluded from the January 26 parade in the national capital.

Tamil Nadu’s exclusion comes shortly after two other states–Kerala and West Bengal–were informed that their tableaus had been rejected for the parade. Every year on Republic Day, a parade of decorated vehicles from various states is held in New Delhi in a bid to display the culture of the states. This year is no exception. However, the rejection of these three states’ tableaus has led to some political leaders crying foul that it is a strategic move to exclude non-BJP ruled states.

“I am deeply disappointed that the state of Tamil Nadu has been deprived of the opportunity to participate in the ensuing Republic Day parade,” Stalin said in his letter to the Prime Minister which he shared on his Twitter handle.

Stalin said the representatives of the state appeared before the Expert Committee for selection for tableaux thrice. In the first meeting, he said the committee expressed satisfaction with Tamil Nadu’s theme– ‘Tamil Nadu in the freedom struggle’–and featured historical figures including VO Chidambaram, Mahakavi Bharathiyar, Rani Velu Nachiyar and Maruthu Brothers.

“The design depicted freedom fighters of Tamil Nadu during the British Raj in the front, and during the East India Company’s period at the back of the tableau,” he said. “That the committee chooses to ignore and reject all seven designs shown to it as per the modifications suggested by its members is unacceptable.”

Stalin said the state was not called for the fourth round of meetings and was informed that it has been left out while shortlisting.

“Exclusion of the tableau of Tamil Nadu will deeply hurt the sentiments and patriotic feelings of the people of Tamil Nadu,” Stalin’s letter said. “This is a matter of grave concern to the state of Tamil Nadu and its people and I request your (PM’s) urgent intervention to arrange to include the tableau of Tamil Nadu.”

DMK MP Kanimozhi too lashed out at the Centre and called the move an undemocratic one.

“India is for everyone, not just the north. The Union government should immediately withdraw its action against this democracy,” she said in a tweet.

Kanimozhi MP said the ignorance of the Union government on the sacrifices of the Tamil freedom fighters was “insulting to the whole of Tamil Nadu”.

“The action of the Union government in rejecting the decorative vehicle of Tamil Nadu designed for the Republic Day celebrations is highly reprehensible. The sacrifices of Veeramangai Velu Nachiyar, Kappalottiya Thamizhan VOC and Bharathiar are present in the lives of all Tamil people.”