War of words continued between AAP and BJP  over the rejection of Delhi and Punjab tableaux of the upcoming Republic Day parade.  Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj on Friday alleged the Delhi and Punjab tableaux have been left out of the upcoming Republic Day parade due to the BJP’s “dirty politics” to exact revenge on the AAP which is in power in the capital and the border state. The BJP hit back, terming it shameful that the AAP, which is in power in both States, was politicising a decision taken by a special committee. BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa said the real reason for the rejection of the tableau was that it had the photographs of the chief minister and Arvind Kejriwal. “The real reason for rejection of Punjab Tableau is that it prominently showed pictures of Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann rather than Mai Bhago Ji or martyrs! Mann Sahab is shamelessly lying; and worst is he has surrendered Punjab’s sovereignty in the feet of Kejriwal. You made Punjab the slave of Kejriwal in the name of change," Sirsa said.

Earlier, addressing a press conference, Bharadwaj said the Centre has rejected Delhi's tableaux for three years now. The last time Delhi's tableau featured in the Republic Day parade was in 2021. It showcased the Shahjahanabad redevelopment project, according to officials.

Bharadwaj said Delhi's tableau this year would have showcased schools in the city and the Mohalla Clinic model."The tableau of Delhi, which is the capital of the country, was rejected by the Centre. Its tableau was rejected for the 2022 parade and then for the 2023 parade and now it has been rejected again for the 2024 parade," the minister said.The theme of the Republic Day parade was 'Nari Shakti' in 2023 and it is 'Viksit Bharat' for the 2024 parade, he said.

"No one can say it's a design competition. The Centre had given us some suggestions and we had incorporated them (into our tableau proposal) and if it would have given us more suggestions, we would have included them too. Our tableau would have showcased schools and the Mohalla Clinic model," he added.

Bharadwaj 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," he charged. On Wednesday, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had attacked the Centre over the non-inclusion of his state's tableau in the parade and accused it of discrimination.Eighty per cent of the selected states are the ones ruled by the BJP, he alleged.

In response, Delhi BJP secretary Bansuri Swaraj said that a highly specialised committee of specialists had taken decisions on the proposals for the Republic Day parade tableaux received from State governments and departments. “It is shameful that without telling reasons for rejection of their tableau proposals the AAP leaders are politicising the decision of a specialist committee,“ Ms. Swaraj said. “All that the AAP governments have to show are stories of liquor scam, fake medicines scam, bungalow scam, drug sale in Punjab or ministers of Punjab and Delhi going to jail,” she added.

Meanwhile, officials aware of the matter said there is a well-established system for the selection for tableaux for participation in the parade. “The tableaux proposals are evaluated in series of meetings of the expert committee comprising of eminent persons in the field of art, culture, painting, sculpture, music, architecture, choreography, etc… Due to time allotted for tableaux in the overall duration of the parade, shortlisting of tableaux is done by the expert committee which leads to participation of the best tableau in the parade,” an official said, declining to be named.

“Moreover, the states/UTs not being selected for the parade are being invited to showcase their tableaux at the Bharat Parv at Red Fort from January 23-31, 2024,” the official added.