NEW DELHI: The controversy surrounding President Droupadi Murmu’s visit to West Bengal for the International Santhan Conference escalated on Sunday, with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee clarifying that the state government was not involved in organising the event, which was instead hosted by a private organisation.
In a statement posted on the All-India Trinamool Congress social media handle on X, she criticised the BJP for targeting her government ahead of the Assembly elections. “The programme was not organised by us. It was organised by a private organisation. A letter from the state government clearly stated that the organisation didn’t have the capability to handle such an important event. The President chose to accept the invitation, and that is her prerogative, not ours,” she said.
Mamata also addressed the issue of low attendance at the event. “The organisers never asked us to send people. The West Bengal Government was not involved in any capacity. If there was a problem with the facilities, it is the Airport Authority of India’s responsibility, not ours,” she stressed, referring to complaints about inadequate washroom facilities.
Defending her government’s respect for the office of the President, Banerjee added, “We give full respect to the chair. We respect the Constitution like our mother.” She further lashed out at the BJP for politicising the issue.
Regarding her absence at the event, Mamata clarified, “I was at the dharna, fighting for the people’s rights. How could I leave? Our Mayor was present at the event on behalf of the state.”
The Chief Minister also took aim at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his tweet questioning the celebration of International Women’s Day, saying, “We will celebrate Women’s Day a thousand times! We respect both our brothers and sisters. Who will run society without them?” She firmly rejected any criticism, saying, “It’s not the first time we’ve celebrated International Women’s Day. We’ve been doing so since our childhood.”
Meanwhile, the BJP during a press conference slammed the TMC government, accusing the Chief Minister of disrespecting the President. BJP leaders alleged that the West Bengal Government was “welcoming infiltrators” and asked her to “stop creating controversies about the Constitution being in danger while failing to honour the President”.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar joined the fray, calling the alleged disrespect to the President’s protocol an “unprecedented attack on the dignity of the highest office of the nation.” He also accused the TMC government of “disrespecting tribal communities whose culture and heritage deserve the highest recognition,” further intensifying the political standoff.
Meanwhile, TMC leader Kirti Azad criticised President Murmu for her “silence” on several issues involving Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the government.
Azad in a post on X questioned why the President remained silent when she was reportedly insulted by the Prime Minister at an official event by not being offered a chair, while Modi sat himself. “Why was the President mum when the PM insulted her by not giving her a chair and sitting himself?” Azad asked.
He also took issue with the President’s silence when she was not invited to inaugurate the New Parliament Building, which caused a political controversy.