President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday raised questions about the change in venue of an international Santhal conference during her visit to West Bengal, remarking that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee might be upset with her.
Speaking at the International Santhal Conclave held at Gosainpur in the Phansidewa area of north Bengal, Murmu referred to Banerjee as someone close to her but expressed uncertainty about the arrangements surrounding the event.
“Mamata didi is like my sister, younger sister. Maybe she is angry with me,” the President said during her address.
Murmu’s remarks came after organisers shifted the venue of the conference from Bidhannagar near Siliguri to Gosainpur. Reports indicated that local authorities did not grant permission for the programme at the original location, prompting the change.
During her speech, the President questioned the scale and arrangements of the gathering, saying several members of the Santhal community were standing outside the venue.
“How should an international Santhal conference look like?” she asked, adding that she noticed many Santhal attendees were unable to enter the event site.
“I feel somebody is stopping them from entering. While on the way, I kept thinking — is this an international conference? Somebody does not want the Santhal to stand united,” Murmu said.
After the programme in Gosainpur concluded, the President travelled to Bidhannagar where she interacted with local residents and addressed people without a formal stage.
At the interaction, Murmu said the location in Bidhannagar appeared more suitable for hosting a large gathering due to its open and spacious surroundings.
“I do not know what happened with the administration. We came here quite easily. They had told us this place was congested,” she said.
Murmu suggested that a significantly larger crowd could have attended the event had it been organised at the earlier venue.
“I feel five lakh people could have assembled here. I do not know why they took us there. Not many of our brothers and sisters from here could attend,” she added.
PM Modi slams TMC over ‘insult’ to President
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday sharply criticised the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government in West Bengal after President Droupadi Murmu expressed dissatisfaction over arrangements during her recent visit to the state.
Calling the episode “shameful and unprecedented”, Modi said the incident had hurt the dignity of the office of the President and saddened people across the country.
In a post on X, the Prime Minister said the remarks made by the President had caused disappointment among those who believe in democratic values and the empowerment of tribal communities.
“The TMC Government of West Bengal has truly crossed all limits. Their administration is responsible for this insult to the President,” Modi wrote.
Also read: Don't know why Mamata is angry: Murmu displeased with WB govt
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