Southern States
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Karnataka
State barred from presenting tableau
By Govind D. Belgaumkar
BANGALORE, JAN. 24. Karnataka has been barred by the Defence Ministry from presenting its tableau at the Republic Day parade for the next three years.
The Tableaux Selection Committee of the Defence Ministry had allowed the State to present a tableau of world-famous stone-chariot of Hampi at the Republic Day parade this year. However, the State Government withdrew the tableau at the 11th hour, and as a consequence, Karnataka was blacklisted by the Defence Ministry.
The Government, which had placed orders for the fabrication of a tableau of the stone-chariot in December last year, withdrew them allegedly at the instance of an ``influential minister''. The minister was, it is alleged, peeved at the ``failure'' of the Information and Publicity Department to award the work to a person known to him.
The Defence Ministry is understood to have pointed out to the State Government that it cannot seek permission to present a tableau at the Republic Day parade for the next three years as per the rules and regulations guiding the participation of States. Any State which fails to present its tableau that has been approved for presentation, or withdraws it, loses the opportunity to participate for the next three years.
The Defence Ministry contends that the State Government has, by withdrawing its tableau, denied an opportunity to another State to put up a tableau. ``We could have invited some other State to showcase its tableau,'' the Defence Ministry is quoted as having told the Government. Most States apply for selection of their tableaux, but only a few of them get permission from the Tableaux Selection Committee.
It may be recalled that a model of the stone chariot, approved by the committee, was tipped to get the top prize if fabricated with artistic elegance.
The Government had awarded the fabrication of the tableau to Sanjay Marketing and Publicity Services after inviting tenders. The agency has sought compensation to the tune of Rs. 4 lakh. It claims to have sent three dozen artists to New Delhi for creating a tableau, and incurred other losses. The State Government is yet to decide on the compensation to be paid to the agency.
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