Delhi Excluded from Republic Day Parade for 4th Consecutive Year; Kejriwal Questions BJP's Decision
New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): Delhi’s tableau has been excluded from the Republic Day parade for the fourth consecutive year, sparking a renewed political confrontation between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal criticized the decision, alleging a pattern of neglect towards Delhi and its residents. He questioned why Delhi’s participation in the parade has been consistently denied, accusing the BJP of harboring animosity against the people of the national capital and lacking a vision for their development. In response, Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva dismissed Kejriwal’s remarks as politically motivated, asserting that the selection of tableaux is determined by an expert committee. Sachdeva also recalled Kejriwal’s controversial 2014 Republic Day protest and questioned what AAP intended to showcase in its tableau—mismanagement or extravagance funded by public money.
Delhi last participated in the Republic Day parade in 2021, featuring the Shahjahanabad redevelopment project. Over the past two decades, Delhi’s tableau has been included seven times. However, the Defence Ministry clarified that the exclusion was based on the decision of an expert panel, which evaluates proposals based on theme, design, and visual appeal. To address recurring controversies, the Defence Ministry has implemented a three-year rotation system, ensuring equal opportunities for all States and Union Territories to showcase their tableaux at least once between 2024 and 2026. This year, Delhi’s proposal was among those rejected, while submissions from Punjab and Karnataka were approved. Mizoram and Sikkim opted out, and tableaux from Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal were selected.
Senior AAP leader Saurabh Bhardwaj alleged bias and political retaliation, citing the exclusion of Punjab’s tableau as another example of BJP’s vendetta following its electoral defeat in Punjab. However, officials pointed out that states like Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Jammu & Kashmir have also been frequent participants over the years, suggesting no favoritism in the selection process. The Defence Ministry emphasized its efforts for broader representation, noting that several states, including Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, Tripura, Jammu & Kashmir, and Goa, had presented their tableaux at Bharat Parv, a cultural event held at Red Fort following last year’s Republic Day parade.
