THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK
President Droupadi Murmu, currently on a two-day visit to West Bengal, expressed disappointment on Saturday over what she described as a protocol breach during her visit to attend the 9th International Santhal Conference, remarking that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and other state ministers did not formally receive her.
Speaking at the conference held in Gosainpur in North Bengal’s Phansidewa, around 576 km from Kolkata, the President said she wondered whether Banerjee was upset with her.
“I am also a daughter of Bengal, but I do not know why I am not allowed to come here,” Murmu said. “Mamata didi is like my sister, my younger sister. Maybe she is angry with me.”
The remarks triggered a political controversy in West Bengal, with the BJP and Congress accusing the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government of disrespecting the constitutional office of the President. The TMC, however, rejected the allegations, saying the President may have been “misinformed”.
Venue Shift Sparks Row
The controversy over the International Santhal Conference venue became a central issue during the President’s visit.
According to organisers, the event was initially planned at a large field in Bidhannagar near Siliguri, an area with a significant Santhal and Adivasi population. However, the local administration reportedly denied permission, leading to the conference being shifted to Gosainpur.
President Murmu questioned the decision and suggested the change prevented many members of the Santhal tribal community from attending.
“I could see many Santhals moving away. I feel someone is stopping them,” the President said during her speech.
“Some people do not want Santhals to be united, educated or strengthened,” she added.
President Visits Original Venue at Bidhannagar
After the conference, President Murmu travelled to the originally proposed venue in Bidhannagar, where she planted a tree and addressed residents without a formal stage.
She said the site appeared better suited for a large gathering and expressed confusion over the administrative decision to shift the programme.
“This is a big field where nearly five lakh people could have gathered,” she said.
“The administration told us the place was congested. But we reached here easily. I don’t know why the venue was changed.”
Murmu also said she visited Bidhannagar to understand how the Santhal community lives in the area.
Organisers Accuse Administration of Obstruction
Naresh Murmu, the main organiser of the Santhal conference, alleged administrative interference and logistical lapses.
He claimed the police changed the venue four times and failed to arrange basic facilities for the event.
“They did not even build a separate washroom for the President. Now they are stopping people from entering, saying they do not have security passes, but the passes were never arranged,” he said.
Organisers also alleged that many Santhal attendees were prevented from entering the venue, raising concerns about participation in the international tribal conference.
Political Reactions Intensify
The incident quickly escalated into a major political row in West Bengal.
Senior BJP leader Rahul Sinha called the episode an insult to the country’s highest constitutional office.
“This is an insult to the President of India. An anti-India government is running in Bengal. Strict action must be taken against the officials responsible,” he said.
Senior Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury also criticised the situation, saying the treatment of the President was inappropriate.
“The President holds the highest office in the country. What happened is unbecoming of that post,” he told reporters.
However, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) defended the state government and suggested that the President may have been misinformed about tribal development in Bengal.
In a statement posted on X, the party highlighted several development programmes for Adivasi communities in West Bengal.
Meanwhile, Siliguri Mayor Gautam Deb said the President’s comments had caused disappointment.
Historical Context of Presidential Visits
The controversy has also drawn comparisons with previous presidential visits to the region. When former President Pranab Mukherjee visited Darjeeling in 2016, the West Bengal government organised a state reception in his honour, and he attended multiple public events in the hills.
The latest episode has now placed the Murmu–Mamata relationship and Centre-state political tensions in West Bengal under renewed scrutiny.