A major political controversy broke out in West Bengal on Saturday (March 7, 2026) after President Droupadi Murmu expressed his disappointment with the state government for shifting the venue of the Santal International Conference to Darjeeling district and not adhering to the desired protocol to host it at the event.
The state government had changed the venue of the conference, in which the president was participating, from Bidhannagar under Phansidewa block in Darjeeling district to Gossainpur in Bagdogra area situated on the outskirts of Siliguri in the same district.
After attending the Gossainpur conference, President Murmu traveled about 30 kilometers to Bidhannagar and expressed her anguish over the change of venue and the absence of state government ministers to receive her.
“They (the government) had said that this place (Bidhannagar) is congested and they won’t be able to go. But I think five lakh people could easily gather here. But I don’t know why they took us there… I don’t know what went through the administration’s mind while choosing a place for the conference where Santal people couldn’t go… I am very sad that people here couldn’t reach the conference because it was held very far away,” Ms. Murmu said.
The President’s statements provoked strong reactions from leaders in constitutional positions.
Vice President CP Radhakrishnan criticized the state government for the treatment meted out to him. “The office of the Honorable President is the highest constitutional office of our Republic and must always receive the dignity, protocol and respect it deserves,” he said.
“Any failure to make arrangements in line with her constitutional position that occurred today in West Bengal is unfortunate. The sanctity of the office of the Honorable President must always be upheld and due respect must be accorded to the highest office of the nation,” he added.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the incident as “shameful and unprecedented.” In a social media post on X, Modi said the Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal has crossed all limits and his administration is responsible for this insult to the president. He said the “distress and concern expressed by the President, which arose from the tribal community itself, has instilled deep pain in the hearts of the people of India.”
President above politics: prime minister
“It is also extremely unfortunate that the West Bengal government is treating such an important issue like Santhal culture so lightly. The office of President is above politics, and the dignity of this office must always be respected. It is hoped that the West Bengal government and the Trinamool Congress will come to their senses,” Modi said.
Several BJP leaders as well as Union Cabinet ministers criticized the West Bengal government over the developments.
“The TMC government in West Bengal today reached a new low in its lawless behavior by humiliating the President of India with its blatant disregard for protocol,” said Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
“The lack of respect for India’s highest constitutional office, that too in a program organized by our tribal sisters and brothers, is an insult to our nation and the very values that define our constitutional democracy. Today, every citizen who believes in democracy is deeply hurt and anguished,” Shah added.
President Murmu, while addressing those gathered in Darjeeling, described West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee as his “younger sister” and wondered if she was angry with her. “If the President visits a place, the Chief Minister and Ministers should also come. But she didn’t… I am also a daughter of Bengal. Mamata didi (sister) is like my little sister. I don’t know why she is mad at me, but I wish her the best,” Murmu said.
Unaware: Mamata
Commenting on the dispute, Ms Banerjee said she was not aware of the President’s event in Darjeeling. “I don’t know who was organizing the programme, who was attending the programme, who was funding it,” he said, adding that he was at a dharna in Kolkata for the last two days. The Chief Minister is holding a sit-in in Kolkata since Friday against removal of names of electors in the special intensive review (SIR).
“We respect you. You represent the number one president of the country… Do not play politics at the time of elections as per the advice of the BJP,” Ms Banerjee said in response to the president.
Expressing displeasure over Ms Murmu’s comments that West Bengal had not done enough for the tribals, the Trinamool Congress president said the President had remained silent when atrocities were committed against the tribals in several states of the country, including Manipur.
The Chief Minister reiterated that she has great respect for the President but she should not make comments that do not suit her high office. Ms. Banerjee told her party leaders to seek an appointment from the President and present details of what her government had done for the state’s tribals.
‘No protocol has been violated’
Later in the day, Ms Banerjee took to social media and claimed that there was no violation of protocol by the state administration.
“The Hon’ble President was received and dismissed by Siliguri Municipal Corporation, DM Darjeeling and CP Siliguri Police Commissioner strictly as per the approved lineup shared by the President’s Secretariat. CM, West Bengal was not a part of the lineup or dais plan. There was no protocol lapse on the part of the district administration,” Ms. Banerjee posted on social media.
The Chief Minister claimed that the BJP was “disrespecting and misusing the highest office of the country for its own partisan agenda”.
Ms. Banerjee also added that the International Santal Council, a private organization, invited the President to the 9th International Adivasi Santal Conference in Siliguri. He added that after intense security coordination, the district administration informed the President’s Secretariat in writing that the organizer did not seem sufficiently prepared and the concern was also conveyed over the phone.
Published – Mar 07, 2026 06:10 pm IST
