Kolkata: Ahead of Assembly elections in West Bengal, the temperature is rising over a political row between Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Central government, with none other than President Droupadi Murmu being at the centre of the controversy.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi turned the heat on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee-led TMC, accusing the ruling party of “insulting” President Murmu during her recent visit to the state.
Not one to take things lying down, Mamata rejected the charge and accused the BJP of using the President’s name to politicise the issue.
On Sunday, the Bengal CM went a step further by sharing a two-year-old photograph where Murmu is seen standing while the Prime Minister is seated beside veteran BJP leader LK Advani.
The photograph posted by Mamata is from March 2024, when President Murmu presented the Bharat Ratna to Advani.
On Saturday, President Murmu, during her visit to Siliguri, expressed dissatisfaction over arrangements at the 9th International Santal Conference near Bagdogra.
She spoke about the low turnout at the event, questioned the decision to shift the venue, and also noted the absence of Mamata 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,” Murmu said.
Modi and other BJP leaders pounced on Trinamool to highlight disrespect shown to the President.
Mamata hit back, saying she was sitting on a dharna in Kolkata to protest the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process in the state.
“Now you are saying I have humiliated the President. How can I go there? I am sitting at a dharna and I am fighting for all,” Mamata said, referring to her protest over the electoral rolls.
Countering Modi’s criticism directly, Mamata found an old photograph which she thought was appropriate to make her point.
“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. I’m showing it because we do respect, but they don’t give respect,” Mamata said.
The photo was displayed by Trinamool Congress from the sit-in platform.
“We have full respect for the chair of the President and the Constitution of India, which we consider our mother; do not blame us,” Mamata said.
