New Delhi | Jagran News Desk: In what could spark a fresh round of conflict between Mamata Banerjee and the Narendra Modi government, the Defence Ministry on Wednesday rejected the West Bengal government’s tableau for the Republic Day parade on January 26.
The West Bengal government's proposal was rejected after an Expert Committee examined it in two rounds of meeting, a statement by the ministry said.
"The tableau proposal of the West Bengal government was not taken forward for further consideration by the Expert Committee after deliberations in the second meeting.
"It is pertinent to mention here that the tableau of the Government of West Bengal was short-listed for participation in the Republic Day Parade 2019 as an outcome of the same process," it added.
Twenty-two proposals, 16 from states and union territories and six from central ministries -- out of a total 56 have been short-listed for this Republic Day parade. The Ministry had received 32 tableau proposals from states and union territories and 24 from central ministries and departments.
There is a well-established system for selection of tableau for participation in the Republic Day Parade. The Ministry of Defence invites proposals from all states, union territories, central ministries and departments.
The proposals are then evaluated in a series of meetings of the Expert Committee comprising eminent persons in the fields of art, culture, painting, sculpture, music, architecture, choreography, etc.
The Committee examines the proposals on the basis of theme, concept, design and its visual impact before making its recommendations, the statement said.
Due to time constraints, only a limited number of tableau can be short-listed for participation in the parade. "The selection process in vogue, leads to participation of the best tableau in the parade," the statement added.
The Mamata Banerjee government is already at loggerheads with the Centre over a range of issues, and is keeping a close watch on the increasing presence of the BJP in the northeastern states ahead of the 2021 assembly elections.
Banerjee has said that she will not allow the implementation of the proposed nationwide National Register of Citizens in the state, claiming it is unconstitutional.