Chennai, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin, Opposition AIADMK and leaders of various political parties expressed their displeasure over the Centre excluding the State’s tableau for the Republic Day parade in New Delhi.
Mr Stalin, who is also the President of the ruling DMK, dashed off a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking his urgent intervention as it was a matter of grave concern to the State and its people.
Mr Stalin tweeted “In my letter to Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi, I’ve requested his urgent intervention to arrange to include the tableau of Tamil Nadu as this is a matter of grave concern to the State of Tamil Nadu and its people.”
“It is deeply disappointing to note that the tableau of Tamil Nadu depicting V.O.Chidambaranar, Mahakavi Bharathiyar, Rani Velu Nachiyar and Maruthu Brothers – the renowned freedom fighters from Tamil Nadu – is excluded from the #RepublicDayParade, 2022”, he said.
Meanwhile, in a Demi-Official letter to Mr Modi, the Chief Minister said he was deeply disappointed the State of Tamil Nadu has been deprived of the opportunity to participate in the ensuing Republic Day Parade in New Delhi.
The Defence Ministry had proposed the Theme of the tableaux for Republic Day Parade, 2022 as “India @ 75 – Freedom Struggle, Ideas @ 75, Achievements @ 75, Actions @ 75, & Resolve @ 75”. Tamil Nadu had submitted sketches choosing the theme “Tamil Nadu in the Freedom Struggle” depicting the renowned freedom fighters from Tamil Nadu.
In fact, the representatives of the State appeared before the Expert Committee for selection for Tableaux thrice. In the first meeting, the Expert Committee expressed satisfaction about Tamil Nadu’s theme “Tamil Nadu in the Freedom Struggle”. The design depicted freedom fighters of Tamil Nadu during the British Raj in the front and during the East India company’s period at the back of the tableau.
The design depicted freedom fighters of Tamil Nadu during the British raj in the front and those from the East India Company’s period at the back of the tableau, Mr Stalin said.
Tamil Nadu highlighted the roles of freedom fighters VO Chidambarananar, Maha Kavi Subramaniya Bharathiyar, Veeramangai Velu Nachiyar and Maruthu Brothers through the tableau. It was noted that the rear of the tableau had been designed to showcase a statue of Rani Velu Nachiyar riding a horse with a sword in hand, flanked by female soldiers.
He said V.O.Chidambaranar, Maha Kavi Bharathiar, Veeramangai Velu Nachiyar, Maruthu brothers are few among the several freedom fighters from Tamil Nadu.
“Exclusion of the tableau of Tamil Nadu will deeply hurt the sentiments and patriotic feelings of the people of Tamil Nadu. That the committee chooses to ignore and reject all the seven designs shown to it as per the modifications suggested by its members is unacceptable”, he said, adding, Tamil Nadu was not called for the fourth round of meeting and it was informed that the State of Tamil Nadu has been left out while shortlisting.
“This is a matter of grave concern to the State of Tamil Nadu and its people and I request your urgent intervention to arrange to include the tableau of Tamil Nadu that will showcase the freedom fighters of Tamil Nadu in the Republic Day Parade 2022 in New Delhi.”, he said.
Leaders of various political parties, including AIADMK Coordinator O Panneerselvam, PMK Founder Dr S Ramadoss, VCK, MDMK, CPi, CPI(M), TMC also urged the Centre to include Tamil Nadu’s tableau in the Republic Day parade.
