Chandigarh: The venue of the chief minister Bhagwant Mann’s Republic Day function has been shifted from Faridkot to Patiala after pro-Khalistan graffiti appeared near the Faridkot venue on Thursday.

According to the chief minister's revised itinerary issued by the state government, Mann will now unfurl the Tricolour at the Polo Ground in Patiala on Republic Day and not at the Nehru Sports Stadium in Faridkot, where the function was originally scheduled to be held.

Even though the government held that the change in venue was because of some administrative reasons, there were reports that it was done after pro-Khalistan slogans were seen written on the outer walls of Nehru Stadium in Faridkot on Thursday. Khalistan flags were also seen in the area, despite heavy deployment of police in the area in the wake of the January 26 function.

It may be recalled that pro-Khalistan leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun of the banned outfit Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) had also claimed, in a purported video, responsibility for the said slogans and flags while issuing threats to chief minister Mann.

Meanwhile, according to the revised schedules, the Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan will unfurl the Tricolour at Faridkot and Cabinet minister Barinder Goyal, who was scheduled to unfurl the Tricolour at Patiala would now hoist the national flag at Mohali.

Meanwhile, special director general of police (DGP), law and order, Arpit Shukla, who held that over 15,000 police personnel have been deployed for the security arrangements for the Republic Day function in the state, also held that the change in the CM’s schedule was done due to administrative reasons.