New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday accused the West Bengal government of insulting President Droupadi Murmu during her recent visit to the state, calling the incident “shameful and unprecedented” and alleging that the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) had “crossed all limits”.
Reacting to the President’s remarks expressing dissatisfaction over the arrangements for a Santal tribal conference in West Bengal, Modi said the office of the President is above politics and must always be treated with the highest respect.
“This is shameful and unprecedented. Everyone who believes in democracy and the empowerment of tribal communities is disheartened,” the prime minister said in a post on social media platform X.
Modi added that the anguish expressed by Murmu, who herself belongs to a tribal community, had caused “immense sadness in the minds of the people of India”.
“The TMC Government of West Bengal has truly crossed all limits. Their administration is responsible for this insult to the President,” he said.
The Prime Minister also said it was unfortunate that an issue as significant as Santal culture had been handled casually by the state administration.
President expresses disappointment
Earlier in the day, President Murmu voiced her displeasure over the relocation of the Santal community conference from Bidhannagar in Siliguri to a venue near Bagdogra airport. She questioned why the location had been shifted to a place that made it difficult for members of the Santal tribal community to attend.
“I don’t know what went through the administration’s mind that they chose a place for the conference where the Santal people couldn’t go,” Murmu said during the event.
“Perhaps the state government does not want the welfare of tribals, and that is why they were prevented from coming here,” she added.
When the President arrived at the venue on Saturday afternoon, only a small number of people were present. Siliguri Mayor Gautam Deb was the only representative from the West Bengal government who received her at the airport.
Murmu also expressed disappointment over the absence of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and other state ministers during her visit.
“If the President visits a place, the chief minister and the ministers should also come. But she did not,” Murmu said. “I am also a daughter of Bengal. Mamata Didi is also my sister, my younger sister. I don’t know if she was angry with me; that’s why this happened.”
Mamata Banerjee hits back
Reacting sharply to the President’s comments and the Prime Minister’s criticism, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of politicising the issue.
“BJP has stooped so low that they are using President Droupadi Murmu to malign the state,” Banerjee said while addressing a protest gathering in Kolkata.
The annual programme had originally been scheduled to take place at Bidhannagar in Siliguri. However, authorities later shifted the venue to Goshaipur near Bagdogra airport, citing security and logistical considerations.
The controversy has sparked a political confrontation between the BJP-led central government and the Trinamool Congress administration in West Bengal over protocol, tribal outreach, and the treatment of the President during official visits.
