It is unfortunate that the tableau of West Bengal has been left out of the Republic Day parade (inside pages, 17 January). Each state of the Indian Union has its own unique identity in different regions. Similarly, contributions by leaders in all states to national causes, including the freedom struggle, cannot be quantified. Courtesy and protocol demand that the central government inform the concerned state of the reasons for the exclusion. All the states should be included in the Republic Day Parade and it is their legitimate right to participate in it.
V. Johan Dhankumar,
Chennai