Mamata Banerjee Rebuts PM Modi Over Allegations of Disrespecting President Murmu

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has issued a strong rebuttal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding the alleged disrespect shown to President Droupadi Murmu during her visit to the state, while speaking from a protest site in Kolkata, the Chief Minister dismissed the Prime Minister's allegations as baseless and politically motivated. She clarified that the 'International Tribal Santal Conference' held in Siliguri was an event organized by a private organization and didn't fall under the purview of the state government. Banerjee emphasized that the state administration had no role in the logistics or the execution of the said program.

Counter-Allegations Regarding Protocol and Respect

During her address at the Trinamool Congress protest site, Mamata Banerjee displayed a photograph to challenge the Prime Minister's claims. She pointed out an instance where Prime Minister Modi was seen sitting while President Murmu remained standing. The Chief Minister questioned whether such conduct reflected respect for the highest constitutional office and a tribal woman leader. She stated that her government holds every constitutional position in high regard and accused the BJP of using the President's office for electoral narratives. Banerjee asserted that the visual evidence she presented spoke for itself regarding who maintains proper protocol.

Clarification on the Private Nature of the Event

Addressing the specifics of the Siliguri event, the Chief Minister explained that it wasn't a state-sponsored program. According to Banerjee, the West Bengal government had officially communicated to the organizers that they might lack the necessary capacity to host an event of such magnitude involving the President of India. Despite these reservations, the President accepted the invitation in her personal capacity. The Chief Minister noted that the responsibility for public attendance and the overall management of the event rested solely with the private organization, and the state government can't be held accountable for their shortcomings.

Jurisdictional Details on Infrastructure and Facilities

Regarding the controversies surrounding the facilities at the venue, including the green room and washroom issues, Mamata Banerjee provided jurisdictional clarifications. She stated that the venue is under the control of the Airport Authority of India (AAI) and not the state government. The infrastructure, including the green room, was constructed by the private organizers on AAI land, while she mentioned that Union Home Minister Amit Shah had also held meetings in the same area recently. The Chief Minister argued that any failure in arrangements should be attributed to the central authority and the organizers rather than the state administration.

Explanation for Absence and Ongoing Protest

The Chief Minister also addressed the reasons for her absence from the Siliguri event, while she explained that she was leading a pre-scheduled protest (dharna) in Kolkata to fight for the voting rights and interests of the people of West Bengal. Banerjee stated that the details of the private program weren't fully known to her before the commencement of her protest. She highlighted that the Mayor of the city was present at the event to represent the local administration. She reiterated that her commitment to the people's struggle took precedence and that she had already made the government's official response public via social media platforms.

Political Context and Tribal Community Outreach

Banerjee accused the Prime Minister of targeting West Bengal specifically as elections approach, while she claimed that the central leadership only mentions communities such as the Bauri, Bagdi, Lodha, Sabar, Munda, Santal, Matua, and Rajbanshi during election cycles. The Chief Minister asserted that her administration works for all communities, including Hindus, Muslims, Jains, Sikhs, Parsis, and Christians, throughout the year. She also responded to the Prime Minister's comments on International Women's Day, stating that the state has a long-standing tradition of honoring women and doesn't require external validation on the matter.