West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has strongly denied allegations of a protocol breach during President Droupadi Murmu’s recent visit to Siliguri. The clarification comes after President Murmu expressed displeasure over the lack of a formal reception by state cabinet members at Bagdogra Airport and poor arrangements at the event venue.
The Counter-Attack: “Evidence” against BJP
Addressing a sit-in protest in Central Kolkata, Banerjee responded to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s earlier criticism. She displayed an enlarged photograph of a past event where the PM remained seated while the President was standing, asserting:
- “We never do that”: Banerjee claimed it is the BJP, not the TMC, that carries a culture of “insulting” the President.
- Respect for the Chair: She emphasized that the state has full respect for the Constitution and the President’s office.
The Blame Game: Mismanagement Allegations
The President had flagged issues such as garbage at the venue, a malfunctioning green room, and a lack of women’s toilets. Banerjee countered these points by stating:
- Private Organisers at Fault: The CM claimed the state government was not taken into confidence regarding the programme details or the selection of the venue.
- AAI Responsibility: Since the function was held on a plot belonging to the Airports Authority of India (AAI), Banerjee argued that the maintenance of the premises fell under their jurisdiction and the private event managers.
- Lack of Information: She stated that since the state wasn’t informed about the specifics, they could not be held responsible for the venue’s infrastructure.
Context of the Visit
President Murmu reached Bagdogra on Saturday to attend an international tribal conference. The perceived “cold shoulder” from the state government—namely the absence of the CM or senior ministers at the airport—had sparked a massive political firestorm, with the Prime Minister labeling the incident a “shameful and unprecedented” insult to a tribal leader.