Opposition parties in Maharashtra targeted the Centre on Thursday over the National Film Awards ceremony being moved out of Delhi to Gujarat and alleged it has been done to undermine the importance of the national capital and Mumbai.
The National Film Awards ceremony will be held in Kevadia in Gujarat with President Droupadi Murmu presenting the honours on September 22. Kevadia, which has been renamed Ekta Nagar, is home to the world's tallest statue - that of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. The Statue of Unity stands at 597 feet and was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2018.
NCP (SP) leader Supriya Sule said the National Film Awards ceremony should be held in New Delhi itself as it is the country's capital.
She also alleged there could be an attempt to reduce the importance of Delhi and Mumbai as various key events, including cricket World Cup matches and visits by foreign heads of state, were increasingly being held in Gujarat.
"For the first time in the 72-year history of the country, the National Awards are being held in Gujarat. Our view is that national awards should always be presented in Delhi. Things that are at the national level should remain at the national level," Sule told reporters.
"When major programmes are held in Delhi, they should be held in Delhi itself. That is why they are called national programmes, because Delhi is the national capital of the country. If it is a national programme, it should be held in the national capital. How can it be held somewhere else?" the Baramati MP questioned.
Citing events like cricket World Cup matches and visits by foreign heads of state increasingly being held in Gujarat, the NCP (SP) working president said it could be an attempt to reduce the importance of Delhi and Mumbai. (PTI)