President of India Droupadi Murmu expressed disappointment over the role of the state administration and the West Bengal government during her visit to North Bengal, while attending the International Santal Conference in Siliguri on Saturday.
Addressing the gathering at the event held at the Bagdogra Airport Authority ground, the President remarked in a tone of regret, “I am also a woman from Bengal, but I am not allowed to come to Bengal. I don’t know why Mamata Banerjee is so angry with me.”
Murmu appeared displeased after noticing that many chairs at the venue remained empty and the turnout was lower than expected.
“It doesn’t seem like this is an international conference. I don’t know what was going on in the mind of the administration. They said there was not enough space, but five lakh people could have easily been accommodated here,” she said.
Referring to the Chief Minister as her “younger sister,” the President questioned the alleged lack of cooperation from the state administration, though she clarified that she had no personal grievances.
During her address, Murmu also raised concerns about the condition of tribal communities in West Bengal. She questioned whether people belonging to tribal and Santal communities were receiving adequate government support.
“I don’t think that the people of the tribal community are getting government facilities properly. I have serious doubts about whether they are getting all the facilities at all,” the President said.
Emphasising the importance of education, the President urged the community to ensure proper schooling for the younger generation.
“I want all children of the Santal community to get a good education, and this would help them become independent and stronger.”
The International Santal Conference was organised to bring together members of the Santal community, one of the largest tribal groups in eastern India.
Earlier, the event had been scheduled to take place in Bidhannagar in Phansidewa. However, the state administration reportedly did not grant permission for the venue, citing security concerns. Despite this, the President visited Phansidewa and interacted with local residents.
Speaking to people there, Murmu again questioned the decision, saying several lakh people could have participated if permission had been granted.
The visit has triggered sharp political reactions. Raju Bista, the BJP MP from Darjeeling who accompanied the President, demanded the imposition of President’s Rule in the state, alleging mismanagement by the government.
Meanwhile, no representatives from the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) were present on the stage during the event.
Responding to the allegations, Siliguri Subdivisional Council Vice-President Roma Reshmi Ekka said there had been a lack of proper communication regarding the programme. “We were not informed in advance. The stage was occupied only by BJP MPs and MLAs,” she said.
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