Patna: No tableau on Independence Day this year

PATNA: The Independence Day programme at Gandhi Maidan will be a low key affair this time. There will be no tableau and common people will be not be allowed to enter the venue. Even children will not participate in the parade. All districts have been advised by the cabinet secretariat department to ensure social distancing during the flag hoisting ceremony and curtail all cultural programmes.
Patna district magistrate Kumar Ravi said, “The flag hoisting ceremony will be held as usual at the Gandhi Maidan but no tableau will be showcased. The number of guests to be invited has also been reduced and commoners will not be allowed inside.”
A letter issued by the cabinet secretariat department to the additional chief secretary, principal secretaries, secretaries, divisional commissioners and DMs on Tuesday stated that only special guests and senior officials will be invited and invitation has to be sent through e-card.
“Keeping the Covid-19 pandemic in view and to ensure social distancing, the number of guests has been reduced to one-fourth to one-sixth this year. Only very important guests and senior officials should be invited and Patna divisional commissioner and DM will identify their sitting arrangements,” according to a letter issued by the cabinet secretariat department special secretary Mithilesh Kumar.
The cabinet secretariat department has asked the IPRD and the Information & Technology department to arrange for live telecast of the Independence programme from Gandhi Maidan so that people can watch sitting at their homes and the divisional commissioner and DM have been told to coordinate with the departments concerned.
Instructions have also been given not to invite freedom fighters and senior citizens in this programme. Even guests from other states will not be invited. The home department has been asked to figure out social distancing in the parade and not to allow NCC and scout this time as children are involved in it, while the health department has been tasked to properly sanitize the vvenue and arrange for thermal screening of the guests.