With the political battle between the Aam Aadmi Party and the BJP already heating up ahead of Delhi Assembly elections, former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has accused the Centre of vendetta politics against his party by not including the national capital’s tableau in the Republic Day parade.
Speaking to the media in New Delhi on Sunday, the AAP national convenor accused the Modi government of venting out frustration against the Delhiites.
“Delhi’s tableau should be included in the Republic Day parade every year as it is the nation’s capital. What type of politics is this? Why do they hate Delhi and its people so much? Why should Delhi vote for them (BJP) then?,” Kejriwal said in an answer to a question posed by the media on Sunday.
“These people (BJP) have no narrative, planning, programme or issues to fight the Delhi elections around. They abuse me and my party day and night. Is this what Delhi should vote them to power for? Why are people of Delhi stopped from participating in the Republic Day parade?” he questioned.
The AAP and the BJP have been at loggerheads over the non-inclusion of the Delhi tableau at the Republic Day parade for the past few years, and it has also not been included for the 2025 edition as well.
Tableaux from states and Union Territories including Bihar, Jharkhand, Chandigarh, Karnataka, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, Uttarakhand, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal have made the cut for Republic Day 2025.
Kejriwal has alleged discriminatory treatment against Delhi on the Centre’s part ahead of the Assembly election, which is expected to take political temperatures higher as the AAP is expected to pitch it as another poll issue. Delhi is likely to go for Assembly polls next month.
Meanwhile, India will celebrate the 55th Republic Day on January 26, 2025.
With ANI inputs
