The Centre has rejected Kerala's float on Vaikom Satyagraha, a renaissance movement against untouchability and linked to temple access, for the Republic Day parade. Kerala did not figure on the final list released by the defence ministry on Wednesday. Vaikom Satyagraha had seen participation from prominent leaders, including Mahatma Gandhi.
The Kerala chief minister's office had, in December, unofficially confirmed that the state's tableau was rejected by the Centre. M.V. Jayarajan, private secretary of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, had said that the Kerala government was waiting for confirmation from the Centre on the rejection of the proposed float. Another Kerala government official claimed the defence ministry had organised a meeting of state representatives where Kerala was “unofficially informed” its proposal was rejected. However, sources in the Central government then said the defence ministry was yet to finalise the names of the states and Union territories that would present tableaux for the Republic Day Parade.
On Wednesday, 17 states and Union territories made it to the final list of tableaux that would be part of the Rajpath parade during this year's Republic Day celebrations, the defence ministry said.
The selected states that will display their floats include Jammu and Kashmir, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Punjab, Arunachal Pradesh, and Goa, according to the ministry.
Tableaux of Delhi and Andaman and Nicobar will also be part of the Republic Day parade.
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Six ministries would also showcase their tableaux—ministry of home affairs (CISF), ministry of housing and urban affairs (CPWD), ministry of railways, ministry of power, ministry of drinking water and sanitation, and ministry of agriculture and farmers welfare (Indian Council of Agricultural Research), it said.
In marching contingents, Madras Regimental Centre, Rajputana Rifles Regimental Centre, and Sikh Regimental Centre will be present. Military bands will be from Sikh Light Infantry Regimental Centre, Mahar Regimental Centre and Ladakh Scouts, among others.
(With PTI inputs)
