President Droupadi Murma’s visit to West Bengal, where polls were held, has sparked a fresh row in the state. It was alleged that there were “mistakes” in the prescribed protocol for receiving President Droupadi Murma. Questions were also raised regarding the change of venue and the absence of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee during the event.
what exactly happened
President Murmu was invited to the 9th Santhal International Conclave which was originally scheduled to be held at Bidhannagar in Siliguri. However, citing security and other logistical reasons, authorities shifted the venue to Goshaipur near Bagdogra Airport, PTI officials said.
When the president arrived at the venue on Saturday afternoon, only a handful of people were present. According to the report, Siliguri Mayor Gautam Deb was the only representative of the state government present at the airport to receive her.
As per protocol, the President’s reception is usually attended by the Chief Minister or a Minister of the State Government.
Meanwhile, in Kolkata, CM Mamata Banerjee continued for the second day in a row against the alleged arbitrary deletion of names from electoral rolls in West Bengal.
What did President Murmu say?
President Murmu on Saturday expressed her dismay at the low turnout at the annual program near Siliguri’s Bagdogra Airport and questioned the decision to shift the venue from Bidhannagar.
She also noted the absence of “younger sister” Mamata Banerjee and her ministers during her visit.
“Generally, when the president comes, the CM should be welcomed and other ministers should be present. But she didn’t come. The governor changed and he couldn’t come. But since there was a fixed date, I came. But that’s fine. I want to thank you for coming here,” she said at the rally, according to PTI.
“If the program was held there (in Bidhannagar), it would have been better. There is enough space and many people could have participated there. But I don’t know why the state administration did not allow the meeting there,” Murmu said.
The President also took a dig at the West Bengal government and said, “Today’s program is being held at such a place that it is difficult for people to come. Maybe the state government does not want the welfare of the natives and that is why they have been prevented from coming here.”
“Mamata Banerjee is like my younger sister. I am also a daughter of Bengal. But I don’t know why I wasn’t allowed to come here. I don’t know if she is angry and that’s why the venue was shifted. Anyway it doesn’t matter. Have a good time everyone,” PTI quoted the president as saying.
Mamata Banerjee reacts
In a post on social media, CM Mamata Banerjee explained the reason behind her absence from the event and the change of venue.
She wrote, “The International Santal Council, a private organization, has invited the Hon’ble President to attend the 9th International Adivasi Santal Conference in Siliguri.”
“After advanced security contact, the district administration informed the President’s Secretariat in writing that the organizer appeared to be underprepared; the concern was also conveyed over phone,” Banerjee said.
She added that on March 5, an advance team visited the Secretariat of the President and was informed about the shortcomings. However, according to her, the program continued as planned.
“The Hon’ble President was received and escorted by Mayor Siliguri Municipal Corporation, DM Darjeeling and Police Commissioner CP Siliguri exactly as per the approved lineup shared by the President’s Secretariat,” Banerjee wrote on Facebook.
Her post further claimed that “CM, West Bengal (Mamata Banerjee) was not part of the line-up or step plan.”
She claimed that “there was no protocol lapse on the part of the district administration.”
She also accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of “disrespecting and abusing the highest president in the country for their own party agenda.”
Earlier, in her address to the rally, the West Bengal CM had stated that it would not be possible for her to “participate in President Murma’s programs if he comes during the elections”.
Mamata Banerjee said the BJP has stooped so low that it is “using President Droupadi Murma to malign West Bengal”.
“We respect you Hon’ble President but don’t indulge in politics at the behest of BJP during elections,” PTI quoted Banerjee as saying.
She also asked, “Why did President Murmu remain silent when tribals were being tortured in Manipur, other BJP-ruled states.”
“…You never thought about minorities. You didn’t say anything about Scheduled Castes, Buddhists, Punjabis, Parsis, Jinns or even Hindus. You know how to do politics. We don’t know how to do politics. I will ask Derek and Sudip to ask the President of India for a meeting and present all that we have done for the tribal people, especially the Santal people,” she said.
The government is seeking a response from the West Bengal government
Following the controversy, Union Home Minister Govind Mohan sought a detailed report from the West Bengal Chief Secretary by 5:00 PM on Match 8 on Sunday regarding non-compliance with the prescribed protocol for receiving President Droupadi Murma, shifting the venue of the Santal International Conference to Darjeeling district and other related arrangements, ANI officials said.
Highly placed sources said the communiqué sent to the West Bengal Chief Secretary sought a response to the absence of the Chief Minister, Chief Secretary and DGP to receive the President on her arrival in the state, a serious violation of the Blue Book rules.
“The Center has taken cognizance of the fact that only the Mayor of Siliguri received it, which is a breach of protocol,” they said.
According to sources, there was no water in the toilet set up for the President for which an explanation was sought from the state government.
The state was asked to explain why the route chosen by the administration to transport the president was strewn with trash, they said.
The letter seeks to know about the action taken against the District Magistrate of Darjeeling, the Siliguri Commissioner of Police and another District Magistrate who appears to be directly responsible for such violations.
‘Insult’: PM Modi criticizes West Bengal government
Accusing the West Bengal government of insulting the President during her visit to the state, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said it was “shameful and unprecedented” and the TMC dispensation “truly crossed all limits”.
PM Modi was reacting after President Murmu expressed her displeasure over the change of venue of a Santal conference she attended in the state.
Prime Minister Modi said that the office of the President is above politics and its sanctity should always be respected. He expressed hope that better sense would prevail between the West Bengal government and the ruling TMC.
“This is shameful and unprecedented. Everyone who believes in democracy and empowerment of tribal communities is disheartened,” PM Modi said in a post on ‘X’.
“The West Bengal TMC government has really crossed all limits. Their administration is responsible for this insult to the President,” he said.
Union Minister Amit Shah also condemned the incident and said, “The TMC government in West Bengal today reached a new low in its anarchic behavior by humiliating the President of India with its blatant disregard for protocol.”
“This exposes the rot in the TMC government which not only violates the constitutional rights of citizens at will but also does not spare the President of India from his tyranny,” Shah wrote on X.
“Disrespecting India’s highest constitutional post, which is also in a program organized by our tribal sisters and brothers, is an insult to our nation and the very values that define our constitutional democracy,” Amit Shah said.
