The central authorities have rejected the tableaux submissions from Punjab, Delhi, and Himachal Pradesh for the upcoming Republic Day parade in the national capital. Each year, a committee determines the states that will be featured in the procession of tableaux during the annual Republic Day celebration.
All these three states have non-BJP ruling governments, AAP has a government in Delhi and Delhi, and INC rules in Himachal Pradesh. This has led to the speculation of biasness while selecting the tableaux for the Republic Day Parade 2024, whose Special Guest in French Presided Emmanuel Macron.
Following this issue, AAP and BJP are against each other in a heated verbal clash and are indulged in ‘Blame Game’.
Delhi : AAP vs BJP
AAP’s allegations
On Friday, Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj accused the BJP-led central government of rejecting the tableaux of Delhi and Punjab for the Republic Day parade as a form of "revenge on the AAP," the ruling party in both regions.
During a press conference, Bharadwaj emphasised that the Centre has consistently turned down Delhi's tableaux for three consecutive years. In 2021, Delhi's tableau, featuring the Shahjahanabad redevelopment project, was the last inclusion in the Republic Day parade, as per officials.
The Centre rejected Delhi's tableau, the capital of the country, for the 2022 and 2023 parades, and it has now been rejected once again for the 2024 parade, stated the minister.
Bharadwaj highlighted that in 2022, the theme was 'Resolve 75,' and their design faced rejection in the second round of meetings. In 2023, despite the theme being 'Nari Shakti,' their design was again rejected. Now, for the 2024 theme, 'Viksit Bharat,' their tableau was once again rejected, despite showcasing the education and health model of the Delhi government.
Bhardwaj emphasized that it's not a design competition, stating that they incorporated suggestions from the Centre into their tableau proposal, and would have included more if provided. The proposed tableau aimed to showcase schools and the Mohalla Clinic model.
He said, “it's not a coincidence that Punjab's tableau proposal was also rejected. “The Centre is doing this to exact revenge on the AAP."
AAP leader Priyanka Kakkar expressed, "Not including the tableaux of Delhi and Punjab in the Republic Day parade shows the dirty politics of the BJP. BJP-ruled states like Assam, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand are consistently given the opportunity in the Republic Day parade, but like last time, Delhi and Punjab have been sidelined this time too," on Friday.
The Delhi government aimed to highlight the health and education models in the Republic Day parade, showcasing the significant changes witnessed through these models in recent years. Unfortunately, this initiative was not allowed, added the statement.
BJP’s Justification
Delhi BJP chief Virendraa Sachdeva asserted that the Delhi and Punjab tableau were rejected because Arvind Kejriwal used his pictures in them.
Accusing AAP leaders of withholding the truth, Sachdeva emphasized the significance of January 26 and August 15 as events of national sovereignty and pride, criticizing Kejriwal for engaging in politics around these occasions. According to Sachdeva, the use of Kejriwal's pictures led to the rejection by the screening committee.
BJP leader Bansuri Swaraj countered Bharadwaj's remarks, accusing him of attempting to misguide the public and media. She pointed out that he didn't mention the rejected proposal sent by the AAP government and questioned whether it met the parameters defined by the special committee.
Swaraj alleged that the AAP governments' track record consists of stories involving a liquor scam, fake medicines scam, bungalow scam, drug sale in Punjab, or ministers going to jail.
Punjab: BJP vs AAP
AAP’s allegations
On Wednesday, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann accused the Centre of discrimination, stating that Punjab's tableau was not included in the parade from the past 2 years.
Mann remarked, "Almost 90% of the selected states for tableaux are ruled by the BJP which suggests the saffronisation of Republic Day and Independence Day by the Narendra Modi government."
On X, CM Mann expressed, “Today, the BJP government at the centre has conveyed the worth of Punjabis' martyrdom to 3 crore Punjabis through the media. Once again, Punjab's tableau was excluded from the 26th January parade... we submitted proposals on three subjects: 1. History of Punjabis' Martyrs, 2. History of Mai Bhago Ji, 3. Priceless heritage of Punjab."
He added, "This decision by the BJP government at the centre demonstrates the extent of hostility in their hearts against Punjabis."
Mann stated that the government aimed to remove the word "Punjab" from the national anthem. He expressed concern, telling reporters in Chandigarh, "If they have their way, they will take out the word 'Punjab' from the national anthem."
Mann further commented, “It is unfortunate that while devotees worldwide pay homage at Fatehgarh Sahib to Sahibzadas of Guru Gobind Singh, Baba Zorawar Singh, and Baba Fateh Singh, along with Mata Gujri, the BJP government engages in tactics to humiliate Punjab. Such indifferent treatment is both unacceptable and unwarranted.”
BJP’s Justification
BJP said “The real reason for rejecting the Punjab tableau is that it prominently showed [pictures] of Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann rather than Mai Bhago Ji or martyrs!”
BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa claimed “Mann sahab is shamelessly lying” and worst is he has surrendered Punjab’s sovereignty at the feet of Kejriwal. In the name of Change, you made Punjab the slave of Kejriwal”.
BJP leader Harjeet Grewal clarified that a tableau is rejected if it doesn't meet the set parameters. He highlighted the committee's responsibility for selecting tableaus based on specific criteria and emphasised that allegations by the AAP against the centre are seen as attempts to mislead.
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