Wednesday’s press preview of the Republic Day parade by the ministry of defence had a shock inclusion — a twenty sixth tableau, with that of Delhi being added to the record of 25 initially introduced on December 21, 2024.
An artist works on Delhi’s tableau on Wednesday. (Raj Okay Raj /HT Photograph)
Delhi’s authentic exclusion was criticised by the Aam Aadmi Celebration (AAP) , which identified that the Union territory’s tableau had not been a part of the parade since 2020, and the ministry of defence, which runs the parade, mentioning that the tableau had been rejected by an knowledgeable panel. It wasn’t instantly clear why and when it was determined to incorporate Delhi’s tableau.
HT reached out to defence ministry officers who didn’t instantly verify the explanation for the inclusion of Delhi.
The AAP didn’t touch upon the event.
Delhi goes to polls on February 5. It’s tableau will give attention to “quality education” in accordance with the ministry of defence. The AAP authorities, which has run the UT since 2015 has touted its achievements within the areas of well being care and schooling particularly, and believes that these shall be vital points within the coming election.
The Republic Day parade is seen by 77,000 spectators, and attended by senior ministers, politicians, and diplomats. The chief visitor this 12 months is Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto. As well as, it’s beamed reside and seen by an viewers of hundreds of thousands.
In a December press convention AAP chief and former chief minister of Delhi Arvind Kejriwal criticised the omission. “Why should the people of Delhi vote for them?” Kejriwal requested, pointing to a perceived sample of neglect within the metropolis’s participation. In response, Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva dismissed Kejriwal’s feedback, stating {that a} committee evaluates tableau submissions primarily based on particular standards, and added, “Arvind Kejriwal wants to do politics in this too.”
The ministry of defence additionally added that it has launched a roster system beginning this 12 months to make sure equal participation for states and Union Territories, with every assured to participate a minimum of as soon as between 2024 and 2026.
The 26 tableaux finalised for the Republic Day parade comprise 16 of states and UTs and 10 of ministries and departments.
The states and UTs, apart from Delhi are: Bihar, Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Goa, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Haryana.
The ministries and departments are: the division of social justice and empowerment, the ministry of tribal affairs, the ministry of ladies and little one growth, the ministry of recent and renewable power, the ministry of rural growth, the division of monetary providers, the ministry of earth sciences, the division of animal husbandry and dairying, the ministry of tradition, and the Central Public Works Division.