No Karnataka tableau in Republic Day parade; CM Siddaramaiah lashes out at Centre, BJP reacts

Siddaramaiah reacts

“The Central Government has insulted the seven crore Kannadigas by denying the opportunity for the state’s tableau at the Republic Day parade to be held in New Delhi on 26 January,” Siddaramaiah said on social media platform X.

The Chief Minister recalled that Karnataka faced a similar situation last year as well, when the state’s tableau was initially rejected but later permitted, keeping Karnataka elections in mind.

“This time, the central government has again continued its trend of insulting Kannadigas,” he charged.

The Central Government has insulted the seven crore Kannadigas by denying the opportunity for the state's tableau at the Republic Day parade to be held in New Delhi on January 26th. Karnataka faced similar situation even last year as our state’s tableau was initially rejected.…

— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) January 9, 2024

Several tableau proposals were sent from Karnataka, but unfortunately the Central Government has rejected all these proposals, Siddaramaiah rued.

“We had conceptualised the tableau of Nalvadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar to depict his immense contributions to democracy and development of our state. We had also sent proposals to depict the contributions of Kittur Rani Chennamma, and Nadaprabhu Kempegowda too along with the proposals to showcase Karnataka’s rich heritage and Brand Bengaluru,” the Chief Minister explained in his post.

“However, the central committee rejected our request, depriving us of the opportunity to introduce the nation to our state’s immense achievements and exemplary figures,” he alleged.

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‘Attacking Kannadiga identity’

The fact that the Congress government is in power in the state seems to be a factor of concern for the BJP-led Central Government, the Chief Minister said. He added that from devolution of tax to the injustice in drought relief, to the sale of banks, ports, and airports built by Kannadigas, the Union government is constantly attacking the people of the state with political malice.

“Now, by denying the state the opportunity in the tableau presentation, it has attacked our identity again,” Siddaramaiah alleged.

“It is unfortunate that the MPs of BJP Karnataka are not questioning this injustice. They have become puppets of Narendra Modi. To whom are they loyal? Kannadigas or Narendra Modi?” he asked on X.

Stating that Kannadigas are already enraged by the continuous injustice from the Union government towards Kannada and Karnataka, Siddaramaiah said that the Union government should not test their patience.

“It is not too late yet, the Central Government should immediately correct its mistake and rectify the injustice done to Karnataka by allowing us to participate in the tableau presentation at the prestigious Republic Day parade,” the Chief Minister demanded.

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BJP reacts

Responding to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s accusation, BJP state president BY Vijayendra, on Wednesday, said that the government should have approached the Union government instead of trying to politicise the issue.

He said that Karnataka tableaux were part of the parade for 14 consecutive years but the state could not get the chance this year because other states were given opportunity.

“As far as the tableau issue is concerned, Karnataka has had an opportunity for the last 14 years. Since every state has to get the opportunity, Karnataka has missed this time,” Vijayendra told reporters.

Last year, when Karnataka’s tableau proposal did not get permission initially, the then-BJP government “rushed” to Delhi, made a request, and ensured that the state got the chance.

“But this time, the state government did not choose to do that. When they got the information that Karnataka is not getting the opportunity, instead of making it a political issue, they should have approached the Central Government,” the Shikaripura MLA said.

He, however, claimed that Karnataka will be given an opportunity at the Republic Day parade next year. “The state tableau will be kept in the exhibition so that no injustice happens to the state.”