R-Day parade: Bengal's tableau proposal fails to make the cut; 22 proposals selected

Guwahati: The Ministry of Defence announced the selection of 22 tableaux proposals for the Republic Day Parade 2020. A total of 56 tableaux proposals (32 from States/Union Territories and 24 from Ministries/Departments) were received for consideration out of which proposals from 16 States/UTs and 6 Ministries/Departments were shortlisted after a series of five meetings.

"The tableau proposal of Govt. of West Bengal was examined by the Expert Committee in two rounds of meetings. The tableau proposal of Govt. of West Bengal 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 Govt. of West Bengal was shortlisted for participation in Republic Day Parade 2019 as an outcome of the same process," informed the ministry in a circular.

The Bengal government had proposed the theme of Kanyasree for the tableau.

Kanyashree, honours with the highest public service award by the United Nations, seeks to improve the status and wellbeing of girls, specifically those from socio-economically disadvantaged families through Conditional Cash Transfers

The rejection of the tableau proposal set tongues wagging within the political circles with many calling the rejection a direct result of the tussle between West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the Modi-Shah led government at the Centre.

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