NEW DELHI: The row over the last-minute change of venue at President Droupadi Murmu’s Santhal event intensified as Prime Minister Narendra Modi slammed the TMC government in the state, alleging that they were against tribal communities. Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee attacked the BJP for “using” the president to “defame” the state and advised Murmu to “not indulge in politics”. Earlier, Murmu had raised concerns over the change of venue, accusing the state administration of choosing a place where “Santhal people cannot go”.“This is shameful and unprecedented. All those who believe in democracy and empowerment of tribal communities are disheartened. The pain and anguish expressed by Rashtrapati Ji, who hails from a tribal community, has caused immense sadness in the minds of the people of India. The West Bengal TMC government has truly crossed all limits. Your administration is responsible for this insult to the President.” Prime Minister Modi he said in a post on X.
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“It is equally unfortunate that an issue as important as Santhal culture is treated with such indifference by the West Bengal government. The office of President is above politics and the sanctity of this office must always be respected. Hopefully, common sense will prevail between the West Bengal government and TMC,” he added.Union Home Minister Amit Shah also criticized Mamata’s government saying it “has sunk to new lows today due to its lawless conduct”.“The Trinamool government of West Bengal has today sunk to new heights due to their lawless conduct. By showing complete disregard for protocol, they have insulted the President of India. This incident has exposed the deep rot within the Trinamool government. A government that tramples on the constitutional rights of citizens at will does not hesitate to dishonor the highest constitutional office of the nation – the President. This affront to the President at an event organized by our tribal brothers and sisters is an insult to our nation and the values of our constitutional democracy. Every citizen who believes in democracy today is deeply hurt and anguished,” he said.
‘Don’t play politics on BJP’s advice’: Mamata responds to Murmu
Mamata Banerjee questioned Murmu’s concern for tribals saying, “Why don’t you protest when atrocities are committed against tribals? Why don’t you protest when it happens in Madhya Pradesh or Chhattisgarh?… “First do something for them and then say anything.”“Don’t play politics at the time of elections, as per the advice of the BJP,” he added.He further accused the BJP of using Murmu to defame West Bengal.“The BJP has fallen so low that it is using President Droupadi Murmu to defame West Bengal,” he alleged.
What had Murmu said?
Murmu had expressed great displeasure over the last-minute change of venue for an event he was scheduled to attend in West Bengal, saying authorities told him the original venue was too congested.“Today was the International Santhal Conference. When I came here after attending it, I realized that it would have been better if it was held here, because the area is so vast… I don’t know what went through the mind of the administration… They said no, the place is congested. But I think five lakh people could gather here easily. But I don’t know why they took us there… I don’t know what went through the mind of the administration that they chose a place for the conference where Santhal people couldn’t go.“It makes me very sad that people here couldn’t make it to the conference because it was held so far away,” he said.She said the last-minute change had saddened her and also noted that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee did not meet her during the visit, which she described as a departure from usual protocol.“Maybe the administration was hoping that no one could attend, and the president would just turn around and leave… If the president visits a place, the Chief Minister and ministers should also come. But he didn’t… I am also a daughter of Bengal… Mamata Didi is also my sister, my younger sister. I don’t know if she was angry with me, that’s why this happened,” she said.
