Every year we see some states being denied representation in the Republic Day parade in New Delhi on January 26. These states are not allowed to present their tableaux in the parade which is showcased before the public. Every year, around 1.25 lakh people watch this parade, but for the last couple of years, the number has been restricted to around 25,000 due to Covid pandemic.
We notice a lot of heartburn among the states which miss the parade. We don’t know who selects and the actual criteria for selecting tableaux. We are told that the Defence Ministry oversees the entire process and the officials of the culture ministry participate in the meetings to select the states for the parade.
But, the entire process looks shady and ridden with political overtones. The only states which are close to the political establishment in Delhi are allowed to parade, but not others. This is meaningless as states aspiring to showcase their culture or achievements should not struggle this much. PM Modi who simplified Padma awards should also simplify this R-Parade process.
