RANCHI: Accusations of protocol breach flew thick and fast as Jharkhand BJP heavyweights unleashed fury over the West Bengal government’s purported insult to President Droupadi Murmu. The episode unfolded at Darjeeling’s 9th International Santhal Conference, drawing widespread condemnation.
Leading the charge, Babulal Marandi posted on X, branding the treatment meted out to the President as ‘deeply regrettable and despicable.’ He pointed out the violation of decorum owed to India’s foremost constitutional authority, which has left the tribal populace aggrieved.
Marandi underscored that state governments bear the onus of upholding the prestige of national institutions, transcending partisan politics.
Arjun Munda, former Union Minister, weighed in with a poignant critique. ‘It’s heartbreaking that proponents of constitutional values have shamed an Adivasi daughter occupying the highest post,’ he observed. This affront, he argued, tarnishes not just the individual but the office, Adivasi heritage, and India’s global standing.
‘Democratic discourse allows dissent, but never at the cost of dignity. The President embodies our collective unity,’ Munda noted.
Samir Oraon, BJP ST Morcha chief and former parliamentarian, lambasted Mamata Banerjee directly. Hailing President Murmu as a symbol of empowerment, he slammed the ‘insulting conduct’ as antithetical to democratic ethos. ‘People won’t forget this breach,’ he vowed.
The uproar reflects simmering resentments in tribal circles, who view the President as a trailblazer. With calls for apology growing, the incident risks fueling a broader narrative of regional political animosity, testing the TMC’s handling of national figures amid its own governance challenges.