TMC lashes out at centre as it rejects West Bengal's tableau proposal for Republic Day parade

NEW DELHI: The Ministry of Defence on Wednesday rejected the West Bengal government's tableau proposal for the Republic Day parade on January 26.

"The tableau proposal of West Bengal government was examined by the expert committee in two rounds of meetings. The tableau proposal of West Bengal government was not taken forward for further consideration by the committee after deliberations in the second meeting," an official statement said.

It said that the West Bengal government's tableau was earlier shortlisted for participation in the Republic Day Parade 2019 as an outcome of the same process.

On the other hand, 22 proposals comprising 16 States and Union Territories and six ministries and departments have been shortlisted for participation in the parade after a series of five meetings.

"For the Republic Day Parade 2020, 56 tableaux proposals, 32 from States and Union Territories and 24 from ministries and departments, were received," the statement said.

Following this, the leaders of Trinamool Congress has come out criticising the centre for rejecting the proposal. According to them, the move can only be seen as a reaction against the people of Bengal for protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act.

It must be noted that the state, headed by chief minister Mamatha Bannerjee, has been strongly opposing the act and the centre's policies.

Trinamool Congress Saugata Roy said, “Just because West Bengal has been opposing anti-people policies of the BJP government, a step-motherly treatment is being meted out to the state. As we have opposed anti-people laws like CAA, the Centre has rejected our tableau proposal.”