A sharp political confrontation between the Centre and the West Bengal government escalated on Sunday after Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused the Trinamool Congress of inflicting a “grave insult” on President Droupadi Murmu during her recent state visit drawing a pointed rebuttal from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who responded by sharing a photograph from March 2024 showing the President standing while the Prime Minister sat beside LK Advani during the Bharat Ratna ceremony.
The image, which Banerjee displayed publicly, was from the occasion when President Murmu conferred the country’s highest civilian honour on veteran BJP leader Advani. “This is for you, specially for the Prime Minister. You will not respect a tribal leader and President of India. President is standing and PM is sitting,” Banerjee said. “I’m showing it because we do respect, but they don’t give respect.”
The Chief Minister also pushed back on the broader allegations levelled against her government. “We have full respect for the chair of the President and the Constitution of India, which we consider our mother; do not blame us,” she said, while also taking a dig at the Prime Minister’s timing. “When election comes, the Prime Minister as a vote bird attacks Bengal,” Banerjee added.
Banerjee, who was participating in a dharna over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls at the time, said she was unable to attend the event. “Now you are saying I have humiliated the PM. How can I go there? I am sitting at a dharna and I am fighting for all,” she said.
How the Controversy Began
The row originated on Saturday when President Murmu, while attending the 9th International Santal Conference near Bagdogra in north Bengal, voiced dissatisfaction over the event’s arrangements. She questioned the low turnout, the relocation of the venue, and the notable absence of the Chief Minister and state ministers during her visit.
“Generally, when the President is coming, the CM should be welcoming her and other ministers should be present. But she did not come,” President Murmu said. She also remarked that the programme might have seen greater attendance had it been held at the original venue. “Had the programme been held there, it would have been better I do not know why the state administration did not permit the meeting there,” she said. President Murmu also referred to Banerjee as her “younger sister” and described herself as “a daughter of Bengal.”
Mamata’s Counter: ‘She Spoke on BJP’s Advice’
Responding to the protocol allegations on Saturday, Banerjee accused President Murmu of speaking “on the advice of the BJP” and questioned why the President remained silent on alleged atrocities against tribal communities in Manipur and Chhattisgarh.
Banerjee maintained that the event was not organised by the state government and said Siliguri Mayor Gautam Deb had represented the administration. She also stated that her government had not been informed of the programme details and was not consulted by the private organisers. Issues including poor sanitation, green room conditions, and the absence of women’s toilets at the venue, she argued, were the responsibility of the organisers and the Airports Authority of India, on whose land the event was held.
She also accused the BJP of “disrespecting and misusing the highest chair in the country for its own party agenda,” adding: “Most unfortunate.”
PM Modi Calls It a ‘Grave Insult’
Addressing a function in Delhi on International Women’s Day, PM Modi said the TMC government had demonstrated “grave insult” toward the President, who herself belongs to a tribal community.
“Today, as the nation celebrates International Women’s Day, it is deeply concerning that just yesterday, the TMC government in West Bengal demonstrated a grave insult towards the honourable President of India, Draupadi Murmu,” the Prime Minister said. He further stated that the episode amounted to mismanagement of the tribal event and an affront to constitutional and democratic traditions. “The enlightened people of West Bengal will never forgive TMC for insulting a woman, for insulting a tribal, and for insulting the honourable President of the country,” he said.
Centre Seeks Report on Protocol Violations
Amid the escalating exchange, the Centre has sought a detailed report from the West Bengal government on the alleged lapses. According to PTI, the Union Home Secretary has written to the state Chief Secretary seeking an explanation for violations of the ‘Blue Book’ the rules governing security and protocol for the President, Vice-President, and Prime Minister.
The communication reportedly seeks clarification on the absence of the Chief Minister, Chief Secretary, and the state’s Director General of Police at the time of the President’s arrival, as well as on the alleged shortfalls in arrangements at the venue and along the route.
Leaders Across India Weigh In
The episode has sparked a wide political reaction. Vice President CP Radhakrishnan called the reported lapses “unfortunate” and stressed that the dignity of the country’s highest constitutional office must always be upheld. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi also voiced concern over the alleged protocol violations. Manipur Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh condemned the TMC government for what he called “blatant disrespect” towards the President during her Siliguri visit.
Defending the state government, West Bengal minister Shashi Panja accused the Prime Minister of politicising the matter. “We are surprised that the PM doesn’t uphold the dignity of the President’s post and does politics over it. CM Mamata Banerjee didn’t insult the President. Our question to the PM is, did he not think of her respect, when there are pictures, when he is seated while the President is standing? When Ram Temple Pranpratishtha was done, why did he not invite President Murmu? Why was the PM silent over Manipur, where tribal women were raped and they were paraded naked?” Panja said.
The intensifying row has added a fresh dimension to the BJP-TMC battle over tribal outreach in poll-bound West Bengal, where communities from north Bengal and the Jangalmahal region hold significant electoral weight.