Ministry of Defence has unveiled the designs submitted for the Republic Day 2024 tableaux.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has unveiled the designs submitted for the Republic Day 2024 tableaux, sparking discussions due to a notable absence: no images featuring Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann or AAP National Convenor and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal were included in the revealed designs. The MoD, seeking public opinions, recently made available the designs submitted by various states, UTs, and government departments on the website http://www.mygov.in.
These seven artworks, open for public comments from December 18 to December 26, 2023, showcase a spectrum of cultural elements, such as the vibrant Punjabi folk dance bhangra, the revered tradition of langar, and depictions highlighting the Mai Bhago Armed Forces Preparatory Institute for Girls. Notably, the absence of images representing Mann or Kejriwal was a matter previously raised by State BJP president Sunil Jakhar.
Jakhar stated that the Punjab government’s tableau designs were reportedly rejected by the selection committee due to the insistence on incorporating images of Mann and Kejriwal, which was seen as a deviation from established protocol. The submitted designs also portrayed facets of India’s freedom movement, emphasizing figures like Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, Rajguru, Lala Lajpat Rai, Kartar Singh Sarabha, Jallianwala Bagh, among others.
Similarly, designs submitted by the Delhi government, highlighting Mohalla Clinics and schools, were also not selected for the Republic Day parade. Jakhar refuted Mann’s accusations of discrimination against Punjab, stating that the rejection stemmed from the submitted designs’ departure from the overarching themes set for this year’s tableau, as indicated in the MoD’s statement released on December 31, 2023.
This ongoing debate between political representatives and the official statement from the Ministry of Defence continues to draw attention as the nation gears up to celebrate the Republic Day.
In response to Jakhar’s claims regarding the photographs, Mann denied the allegations, challenging Jakhar to prove that the Punjab government intended to include their photos in the tableau. Jakhar stood by his earlier comments despite Mann’s rebuttal.
On December 31, 2023, the Ministry of Defence issued a statement refuting Mann’s allegations of discrimination in the selection process. The statement clarified that Punjab’s tableau proposal underwent the initial three rounds of review by the Expert Committee. However, it couldn’t progress further as it did not align with the broader themes designated for this year’s tableaux after the third round.
The tussle between conflicting narratives from political figures and the official statement from the Ministry of Defence continues, maintaining public interest as the Republic Day approaches.