KOLKATA: President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday publicly voiced strong displeasure over protocol breaches and a last-minute venue change during her visit to Darjeeling district for the ninth International Santhal Conference, questioning if Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was “angry” with her.
Speaking at the shifted venue in Gossainpur near Bagdogra, the President lamented the absence of the Chief Minister or any state ministers to receive her, calling Banerjee her “younger sister”. She later visited the original Bidhannagar site, asserting that it could hold five lakh people and disputing claims of congestion.
The conference, aimed at tribal welfare and unity, was originally scheduled to be held at Bidhannagar in Phansidewa, a hub for the Santhal community with ample space. State authorities cited “congestion and security” concerns to relocate it to the remote Gossainpur area on the outskirts of Siliguri, which resulted in sparse attendance.
“Had the programme been held there, many people could have attended. But today’s venue makes it difficult for people to come. Perhaps the State Government does not want the welfare of tribals,” Murmu said, hinting at deliberate hindrance to Santhal progress. Murmu, herself from a tribal background, stressed the community’s overlooked role in India’s freedom struggle, referring to Tilka Majhi’s revolt and the 1855 Hul led by Sido-Kanhu.
“Someone doesn’t want Santhals to unite, progress, get educated, become strong,” she remarked, urging greater educational opportunities for Santhal children whose contributions, she said, had been deliberately excluded from history. After the event, she addressed locals at Bidhannagar without a podium and said: “I am also a daughter of Bengal… I don’t know if Mamata Didi is angry with me; that’s why this happened.”
The BJP seized the opportunity to attack the Mamata Banerjee government ahead of the Assembly elections. BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya posted on X: “In a rare and unprecedented development, the Hon’ble President openly expressed displeasure over the lack of preparation and protocol. This is institutional disrespect and a reminder of how governance in Bengal has descended into chaos.”
The party accused the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government of disregarding constitutional propriety by denying permission for the original venue where Murmu was to be the chief guest. The TMC hit back, terming Murmu’s remarks “political” and highlighting welfare measures undertaken for tribal communities. Banerjee, who was protesting voter roll revisions in Kolkata, urged her MPs to submit a memorandum detailing the government’s work for Scheduled Tribe and Scheduled Caste communities.
The party also highlighted several welfare initiatives, including the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme, under which ST women receive Rs 1,700 monthly (Rs 20,400 annually), scholarships for 1,09,272 ST students in 2025-26, and the Jai Johar pension scheme that provides Rs 1,000 monthly to 2,95,315 beneficiaries. It also cited Rs 73.94 crore spent on tribal infrastructure such as schools and roads.
“It is extremely unfortunate that the Honourable President appears to be under a misinformed impression. These are measurable, on-ground interventions,” the TMC said in a post on X. Siliguri Mayor Gautam Deb described the President’s comments as “hurtful”. Organisers said Murmu’s visit, which also included a plantation drive, was aimed at highlighting socio-economic upliftment of tribal communities.
