Chandigarh: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Punjab government has raised an objection to the central government dropping the state’s tableau and that of AAP-ruled Delhi from the Republic Day parade.
“This is a case of clear and petty discrimination on the part of the government of India against the Aam Aadmi Party-led governments in Punjab and Delhi, both of which have not been included in the parade,” said Punjab finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema Monday talking to media persons.
This is the first time since 2017 that the Punjab tableau has not been included.
Tableaux of 17 states and Union territories have been included in the Republic Day parade. These are Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, West Bengal, Gujarat, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Tripura, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu.
Karnataka was not on the initial list but was included after the state’s opposition leaders slammed the move.
For this year’s Republic Day parade, the states had to choose from three themes — India at 75 years, international year of millets, and nari shakti (women power). The Ministry of Defence finalised the tableaux through a selection committee.
The director of public relations, Punjab government, Sonali Giri told ThePrint that Punjab had participated in the first two meetings of the selection committee in New Delhi which were held in November and December, respectively.
She said they presented three ideas during the meetings. One was Watan Ke Rakhwale (saviour of the nation) which would showcase soldiers securing the border and Punjab farmers “contributing to India’s food bowl”. The second was under the nari shakti theme — a showcase of the life and contribution of Mai Bhago, the Sikh woman warrior who took on the Mughal armies in the early 18th century.
“Another idea which the Government of India really liked was one related to the period of India’s freedom struggle from the Anglo Sikh wars onwards till Independence with special focus on the Battle of Saragarhi of 1897,” said Giri.
The complete designs, she said, were presented “with 3D image projections”, but Punjab was not called for the third meeting of the selection committee which was held in Delhi in the middle of December.
“We were quite hopeful that our idea would be selected. The fact that the state is not among the chosen ones is a setback,” Giri said.
Cheema claimed that Punjab and Delhi are “not being allowed to showcase our culture” due to the central government’s bias. “Punjab wanted to show the country its contribution to the freedom struggle,” he said.
Reacting to the development, president of the Shiromani Akali Dal, Sukhbir Singh Badal urged Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to take it up “forcefully” with the central government.
Shocked to learn GOI has rejected Punjab's tableau for 74th R-Day Parade. That means we aren't allowed to showcase our culture & contribution to freedom struggle! Urging GOI to review its decision,I also appeal to Pb CM @BhagwantMann to wake up & take up this forcefully with GOI.
— Sukhbir Singh Badal (@officeofssbadal) January 23, 2023
“The selection of tableaux for Republic Day has been made on zonal basis, categorising States/UTs into six zones — Northern Zone, Central Zone, Eastern Zone, Western Zone, Southern Zone and North Eastern Zone,” A Ministry of Defence official told ThePrint.
Normally, approximately 15 tableaux are selected. This year there are 17 tableaux from various states and UTs besides six from various ministries and departments.
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Not the first tableaux controversy
This is not the first controversy surrounding the tableaux this year. Karnataka, which has participated in the parade for the past 13 consecutive years, was dropped. Pointing to the guidelines it had set for this year, the central government said this was because it wanted to provide an opportunity to those states that have taken part in the parade very few times in the past eight years.
The BJP-led state government did not object to this, which led to both the state and central governments receiving heavy criticism from the opposition.
It is unfortunate to know that Karnataka will not be participating in the #RepublicDay parade this year.
Rejection of Karnataka's tableaux reflects how serious @BJP4Karnataka is about upholding the pride of our state.
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) January 7, 2023
But after the outrage, the Ministry of Defence included the poll-bound state’s tableau in the parade. Karnataka will be showcasing the various kinds of millets produced in the state.
(Edited by Theres Sudeep)
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