Centre turns down Bathukamma tableau 

New Delhi: The Defence Ministry has apparently rejected the proposal of the Telangana government on 'Bathukamma" tableau for Republic Day parade second time in a row. A Ministry official reportedly has disapproved of the proposal citing expert committee's negative input. It may be recalled, however, that the tableau proposal of the government has cleared five meetings in the past and carried out the suggested changes to the audio track and the sixth meeting of the Committee was satisfied with the same.

It was expected to be through without any hitch, but the dampener came on Monday when the Ministry reportedly conveyed to the State government officials its negative decision citing Committee's objections, any specific reasons have not yet been given. The Telangana State government's Information and Public Relations Department had proposed "Bathukamma" as the theme of the Tableau for 2017 Republic Day Parade.

It had been accepted in principle and the team of officials comprising the Information Department's deputy director, P Bhaskar and artiste Ramana Reddy, later showcased the 3-D module of the same before the Committee. Minor changes were suggested to it and the same had been carried out. The Joint Secretary's office of the Ministry which gives the final approval conveyed its inability to approve the proposal on Monday.

It may be recalled that the proposal of Telangana government was rejected last year also after it had cleared several stages while the AP Government’s proposal was rejected outright in the first meeting itself. The Telangana Government proposal was rejected by the Ministry in the end. This year, the AP government's proposal on Tribal life and art forms (Borra Caves) was rejected by the committee. Telangana officials were hopeful of clearing the last post, "but the same office and the same official" has yet again rejected it now also, a source said.