Centre’s rejection of Delhi’s Republic Day tableau politically motivated, says AAP

Kakkar said that Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal presented the state’s model of governance to the country. “In this model, the inflation is the lowest in the country and the per capita income is the highest. You get 200 units of free electricity, and the cheapest power in the country. 30 flyovers that cost less than estimated have been built, saving Rs 557 crore. It has the highest number of EV charging stations. Delhi has 1,300 disabled-friendly e-buses. The pride of the Delhi model is education and health… We wanted to showcase the transformation in these sectors in the republic tableaux but this was not to be,” she said.

Kakkar alleged that the Centre has selected mostly BJP-ruled states. “Just like the last time, Delhi and Punjab have been excluded. I wish PM Modi’s heart was as big as that of the people of Delhi,” she said.

Kakkar, meanwhile, said that Niti Aayog had said in the past that the Delhi government schools are amongst the top 10 in the country because a landmark transformation was seen in the government’s education system.

She added that of late the BJP has been attacking Delhi’s health model because “a lot of people from outside Delhi, especially from UP come to Delhi and when they go back they praise the Delhi model”.

Addressing reporters at Punjab Bhawan in Chandigarh, Punjab CM Mann hit out at the BJP-led central government over non-inclusion of the state’s tableau for the Republic Day parade, alleging the Centre has discriminated against the state. “The Centre has discriminated against Punjab,” said Mann.

“The power-mad Centre is demeaning and humiliating the enormous sacrifices made by Punjabis in the national freedom struggle. It is unfortunate that on one hand devotees from across the globe are paying obeisance at Fatehgarh Sahib to pay homage to Sahibzadas of Guru Gobind Singh, Baba Zorawar Singh and Baba Fateh Singh along with Mata Gujri, the BJP government was playing dirty tactics to humiliate Punjab. This indifferent treatment is unacceptable and unwarranted,” he said.