‘TMC Ego Will Soon Be Shattered’: PM Modi Slams TMC Over Disrespecting President Murmu in Bengal | Watch

A political controversy has erupted after Droupadi Murmu expressed disappointment over alleged mismanagement and protocol lapses during her visit to West Bengal.

The issue has sparked a sharp political exchange between Narendra Modi, the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) government led by Mamata Banerjee, and several opposition leaders.

The controversy centres around arrangements for a major Santhal community event in North Bengal and the absence of senior state leaders during the President's visit.

President Murmu Expresses Disappointment During Visit

While speaking during her visit to Siliguri, President Murmu said she felt hurt by how the 9th International Santhali Conclave was handled.

According to her, the programme was originally planned in Bidhannagar, but the venue was later shifted to a smaller location near Bagdogra Airport by the state administration citing congestion concerns.

Murmu questioned the reasoning behind the decision and said the new location could not accommodate a large number of Santhal community members who wished to attend.
She also mentioned issues such as poor stage arrangements and inadequate facilities, including toilets.

The President said she visited the earlier venue herself and felt the area could easily accommodate a much larger gathering.

Despite the criticism, Murmu clarified that she had no personal grievances against Mamata Banerjee, calling her like a younger sister and wishing her well.

Murmu also highlighted protocol issues during the visit.

She said that neither the Chief Minister nor any state minister came to receive her at the airport, which she found disappointing. Only the Mayor of Siliguri reportedly welcomed her upon arrival.

The President emphasised that the event was important for the tribal community, and proper arrangements should have been ensured.

PM Modi Launches Strong Criticism

Prime Minister Narendra Modi strongly criticised the TMC government, accusing it of disrespecting the office of the President.

Speaking on the issue, Modi said President Murmu had travelled to West Bengal to attend a major celebration of the Santhal community, but the state government boycotted the event instead of honouring her.

Modi made several key remarks during his statement:

• He said the incident was not just an insult to the President but also an insult to the Constitution of India.
• According to him, the episode also insulted the spirit of the Constitution and India's democratic traditions.
• He emphasised that Murmu comes from a tribal background and has always worked for the welfare of tribal communities, making the situation even more unfortunate.
• Modi accused the TMC government of mismanaging the event and failing to show respect to the country's highest constitutional office.

The Prime Minister also warned that arrogance of power eventually leads to downfall, saying no matter how powerful someone becomes, ego ultimately destroys them.
He appealed to the people of West Bengal, saying the "dirty politics and arrogance of power" displayed by the TMC would not be forgiven.

Modi further stated that:

• The people of West Bengal would not forgive the insult to a tribal woman who is the President of India.
• The country as a whole would not forget the disrespect shown to the constitutional office.
• The tribal community across India would also remember the incident.
• Women in the country would not accept what he described as an insult to a woman holding the highest office in the country.

Mamata Banerjee Hits Back

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee responded strongly to the criticism.

She said she respects President Murmu but advised her not to get involved in political matters.

Banerjee claimed the state government was not informed properly about the programme or its organisers, which is why she did not attend the event.

She also defended her government's record on tribal welfare, stating that West Bengal has taken several steps to support the Santali language and tribal communities, including providing education facilities and government recognition for the language.

Banerjee further accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of trying to politicise the issue ahead of elections.

BJP Calls It 'Institutional Disrespect'

BJP leaders criticised the state government, calling the episode a serious failure of governance.

Party leader Amit Malviya said denying permission for a conclave where the President was the chief guest and failing to ensure proper arrangements reflected institutional disrespect for the highest constitutional office.

According to the BJP, the incident shows a breakdown in administrative responsibility in the state.

Opposition Seeks Clarification

Meanwhile, D. Raja said the details of the incident remain unclear and that the Chief Minister should explain what exactly happened.

He also pointed out that relations between the central government and several state governments have been strained in recent years, suggesting that political tensions could be influencing such disputes.

The controversy has added another layer of tension between the central government and the West Bengal administration. With both sides trading strong accusations, the issue has quickly turned into a major political debate that may continue to dominate discussions in the coming days.