West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday rejected allegations that the venue of Droupadi Murmu’s event in North Bengal’s Siliguri was changed and denied claims of disrespect toward the President. Banerjee said she had no role in organising the programme and could not leave her ongoing sit-in protest (dharna) at Esplanade.
Speaking from the protest stage, Mamata said the arrangements for the President’s visit were made by event organisers and not the state government. “Don’t blame us. The organisers have arranged everything. I am sitting here on a dharna. How can I leave this dharna to protect the people’s right to vote?” she said, reiterating the position she had taken a day earlier.
Mamata also targeted the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi by displaying an old photograph at the protest venue. In the picture, Modi is seen seated beside senior BJP leader Lal Krishna Advani while President Murmu is standing nearby. Referring to the image, Mamata questioned who was actually showing “disrespect” to the President, asking why the country’s “number one citizen” was standing while the Prime Minister remained seated.
The controversy over the President’s visit has intensified political tensions between the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the BJP. TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee also raised the issue during a public meeting in Mathurapur, South 24 Parganas, accusing the BJP of pretending to support tribal communities while failing to respect the President.
The dispute began after Murmu, while attending the International Santal Conference in Siliguri on Saturday, expressed disappointment that neither the Chief Minister nor any state representative had come to receive her. Addressing Mamata as her “younger sister,” Murmu asked why the Chief Minister appeared to be upset with her.
Responding to the criticism, Mamata said she could not leave the dharna protest over the alleged deletion of voter names from electoral rolls. She argued that the issue was crucial for safeguarding voting rights. “If people cannot vote, then what is the point of elections?” she said.
Modi also weighed in on the issue while speaking at an event in New Delhi on the occasion of International Women's Day. He said disrespecting the President amounted to insulting the Constitution and the country’s democratic traditions.
“Insulting the President means insulting the Constitution of the country, democracy and the tribal communities,” Modi said, accusing the TMC of engaging in “dirty politics” by allegedly boycotting the President’s programme.
Earlier, Modi had posted on social media in Bengali describing the situation as “shameful and unprecedented,” and said the dignity of the President’s office must remain above politics.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah also criticised the West Bengal government, alleging that proper protocol was not followed during the President’s visit and that the incident had damaged the dignity of the country’s highest constitutional office.
The Union Home Ministry has sought an explanation from the state government and demanded a detailed report. Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan has written to West Bengal Chief Secretary Nandini Chakraborty, asking the state administration to submit a comprehensive report on the incident and the actions taken by the state government. According to sources, the Centre has taken a strict stance and instructed that the report be submitted to North Block in New Delhi by Sunday afternoon.
Also read: Sorry madam, you have fallen into BJP’s trap: Mamata to President
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