Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched a sharp attack on the ruling All India Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal after President Droupadi Murmu expressed displeasure over arrangements during her visit to the state, calling the episode “shameful and unprecedented”.
In a post on X, Modi said the remarks made by the President had saddened people across the country, particularly those who believe in the empowerment of tribal communities.
“This is shameful and unprecedented. Everyone who believes in democracy and the empowerment of tribal communities is disheartened,” the Prime Minister wrote.
The political row began after President Murmu raised concerns about the arrangements for an international event held in Siliguri during her one-day visit to the state on Saturday.
Murmu had travelled to the town to attend the 9th International Santal Conference organised by the International Santal Council.
Speaking at another event in Bidhannagar, the President questioned the choice of venue and said the location in Siliguri was too small for such a large gathering.
“Mamata is like my little sister. Maybe she is angry. I don't know why she chose to organise an international event in such a cramped venue. Had the venue been bigger, more people would have attended the conference,” Murmu said.
She also compared the venue with Bidhannagar and said that as many as five lakh people could have attended if the conference had been organised there.
Murmu also pointed to protocol lapses during the visit, saying neither Mamata Banerjee nor any state minister received her.
Reacting to the remarks, PM Modi said the incident reflected poorly on the state government and hurt the dignity of the President’s office.
“The pain and anguish expressed by Rashtrapati Ji, who herself hails from a tribal community, has caused immense sadness in the minds of the people of India,” he wrote.
“The TMC Government of West Bengal has truly crossed all limits. Their administration is responsible for this insult to the President,” Modi added.
He also criticised the state government over its approach towards tribal culture.
“It is equally unfortunate that a subject as important as Santal culture is treated so casually by the West Bengal Government,” the Prime Minister wrote.
The remarks also drew a response from the Bharatiya Janata Party, which accused the state government of disrespecting the country’s highest constitutional office.
“When a state government shows such disregard for the dignity of the office of the President of India, it goes beyond administrative lapse. It signals a deeper erosion of constitutional propriety and governance,” the party’s West Bengal unit said in a post on X.
During the 9th International Santal Conference, Murmu praised India’s tribal communities for preserving their culture for centuries. She urged tribal communities to embrace modern development while continuing to protect their traditions, language and environment.
Murmu, who belongs to the Santal community and is the first tribal President of India, also encouraged tribal youth to learn other languages and scripts while remaining connected with their own language.
Her visit to the state was originally planned as a two-day programme beginning March 6, including a trip to Darjeeling. However, the itinerary was revised after the sudden resignation of C V Ananda Bose on Thursday.
Following his resignation, R N Ravi was given additional charge as the Governor of West Bengal.
