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Arvind Kejriwal slammed the BJP, saying that Delhi is the national capital of India, and thus, its tableau should be included in the Republic Day parade every year.
AAP leader Saurabh Bhardwaj said it was the third time in a row and claimed it was the BJP’s revenge after losing to AAP. (File image)
Another political tussle broke between Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and BJP-led Centre amid the reports that Delhi’s tableau has missed the cut yet again for 2025’s Republic Day parade, with party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal accusing the Centre of playing politics over the issue.
Speaking to the media on Sunday, Kejriwal slammed the BJP, saying that Delhi is the national capital of India, and thus, its tableau should be included in the Republic Day parade every year.
“I want to ask them — why is Delhi’s tableau being excluded once again this year? Why are the people of Delhi being prevented from participating in the Republic Day celebrations,” Kejriwal said as quoted by news agency PTI.
He further claimed that Delhi’s tableau has been missing the cut for several years in now, Kejriwal said, “What kind of politics is this? Why is there so much hatred towards Delhi and its people? If these leaders hold such animosity, why should the people of Delhi vote for them?”
The AAP and the BJP have been at loggerheads over the non-inclusion of the Delhi tableau at the Republic Day parade for the past few years.
Centre’s clarification
Responding to the allegations, the defence ministry clarified that the tableau selection process is fair and impartial, conducted under a rotating roster system.
In a statement, the ministry said that it follows a roster allowing 15 states and UTs to participate every three years. Delhi was among the shortlisted states for 2025, but its proposal was not approved by the Tableau Selection Committee, it added.
“According to the roster, a total of 15 states and Union Territories (UTs) were selected and given an opportunity to participate. However, two states were not ready, and another two did not show up. Additionally, Delhi was not approved by the committee. As a result, five other states were chosen to take their place,” the ministry sources said.
Tableaux from states and Union Territories including Bihar, Jharkhand, Chandigarh, Karnataka, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, Uttarakhand, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal have made the cut for Republic Day 2025.
BJP reacts
Hitting back at the AAP chief, Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva said that Kejriwal shows his “true colour” whenever a national festival approaches.
“Delhiites have not forgotten the incident from 2014 when the entire city was gearing up to celebrate Republic Day, but Kejriwal tarnished its dignity by staging a protest,” Sachdeva said.
He further said the decision to select tableaux for the Republic Day parade is made by a designated committee, and their numbers are also limited, which Kejriwal is well aware of.
“However, since elections are approaching in Delhi, Kejriwal wants to divert people’s attention from the real issues,” Sachdeva said.
Officials said the last time Delhi’s tableau featured in the Republic Day parade was in 2021.
(With inputs from PTI)
