New Delhi : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday accused the West Bengal government of insulting President Draupadi Murmu during her visit to the state, saying it was “shameful and unprecedented” and the TMC government had “really crossed all limits”.
The Prime Minister said this after President Murmu expressed his displeasure over changing the venue of the Ninth International Santhal Conference held in the state and the absence of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her ministers during his visit. President Murmu had participated in this conference. PM Modi said that the post of President is above politics and its sanctity should always be respected. He expressed hope that the West Bengal government and the ruling TMS will come to their senses.
“This is shameful and has never happened before. Everyone who believes in democracy and empowerment of tribal communities is disappointed,” Modi said in a post on ‘X’. The Prime Minister said that the pain and suffering expressed by the President, who himself belongs to a tribal community, has deeply saddened the people of India.
He said, “The TMC government of West Bengal has really crossed all limits. Their administration is responsible for this insult to the President.” Modi said that it is equally unfortunate that the West Bengal government is taking such an important subject like Santhal culture so carelessly.
Earlier, President Murmu expressed displeasure over holding the conference of the Santhal tribal community near Bagdogra Airport instead of Bidhannagar and wondered whether the state administration expected that no one would be able to attend it.
He said, “I don’t know what came to the administration’s mind that they chose a place for the conference where Santhal people could not go.” Murmu said, “Maybe the state government does not want the welfare of the tribals and that is why they were stopped from coming here.”
Reacting sharply to Murmu’s comments, Chief Minister Banerjee alleged that the BJP was using the President’s office to defame the state government.
At a protest site in Kolkata, the CM said, “BJP has stooped so low that they are using President Draupadi Murmu to defame the state.”
Murmu was invited to the annual function, which was actually to be held in Bidhannagar, Siliguri. But, citing security and other reasons, the officials changed the location to Gopalpur near Bagdogra Airport.
When the President reached the venue on Saturday afternoon, only a few people were present there. Siliguri Mayor Gautam Deb was the only representative of the state government present to receive him at the airport.
Murmu said he was “very sad” that people could not attend the conference because it was held so far away. “Perhaps the administration hoped that no one would be able to attend, and the President would simply turn back and leave.”
Murmu said, “If the President goes somewhere, the Chief Minister and ministers should also come. But she did not come… I am also the daughter of Bengal. Mamata Didi is also my sister, my younger sister. I don’t know that she was angry with me, that’s why this happened.”