Maharashtra allowed to present tableau at Republic Day parade

MUMBAI: State culture minister Sudhir Munganthiwar has said Maharashtra's tableau will feature in the Republic Day parade in New Delhi next month. After the state's entry was not picked for the 2023 Republic Day parade in New Delhi, Mungantiwar said the state government made a request to defence minister Rajnath Singh, urging him to accept the Maharashtra tableau since it was showcasing Marathwada Mukti Sangram and it was the Amrit Mahotsav year. Munganthiwar said Singh accepted the request.
Shiv Sena (UBT) had earlier slammed the Shinde-Fadnavis government after the state's tableau was reportedly rejected by the centre.
"Since 1970, after every two or three years, each state's tableau is not given a chance. This year, Maharashtra's name was not picked. But, this is the Amrit Mahotsav year. So a request was made by our department (to defence minister Rajnath Singh) that we should be given an opportunity to celebrate Marathwada Mukti Sangram. We made a request for a chance as a special case. Our request has been granted. We thank him (Singh) wholeheartedly for accepting our tableau," Munganthiwar said.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant had criticized the Shinde-Fadnavis government for not including Maharashtra's tableau. "After hearing it we are in pain. There is distinct pride in seeing the chariot of Maharashtra. Maharashtra's head was hanging in shame as there was no tableau this year. What is the government doing? There is no other subject than power. Culturally and socially BJP is polluting Maharashtra. Maharashtra needs to recover from it," Sawant had said.
In 2020, the Maharashtra tableau which was rejected by the Centre was put on show at the Republic Day parade at Shivaji Park. The tableau depicted the valour of Kanhoji Angre, naval chief of Shivaji Maharaj's army. Kanhoji fought British, Dutch and Portuguese naval interests on the coasts of India during the 18th century and kept their expansion under check.
The Maharashtra government had presented four tableau ideas for the R-Day parade in Delhi, but all were rejected. The ideas included the 175-year-old journey of theatre in the state, 350 years of the naval fleet set up by Kanhoji Angre, the story of Maharashtra's traditional wear and centenary year of Geet Ramayana.