Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has pulled no punches in criticizing West Bengal authorities for disrespecting President Droupadi Murmu during her Darjeeling visit, calling it a stain on the nation’s honor. He stressed that the Rashtrapati Bhavan stands aloof from political fray, representing India’s constitutional pinnacle.
Details of the discord surfaced during the International Santhal Conference. President Murmu reached Fansidewa in Siliguri, but was met with an empty protocol podium—no CM Mamata Banerjee, no ministers. The plot thickened as the prime venue in Bidhan Nagar got axed for ‘security reasons,’ shoving the event to remote Goshai pur. This decision sidelined thousands of Santhals from participating.
In her emotional address, Murmu questioned the venue change: ‘This vast land could host lakhs; why shift to a crowded, distant spot?’ She voiced sorrow over low attendance, suspecting administrative intent to minimize the event. ‘Santhal folks couldn’t make it here. And where’s the CM? I’m from Bengal; Mamata is like my sister—why this neglect?’
Rijiju hit back fiercely on X. ‘Our tribal President’s agony is Bengal’s and India’s misfortune,’ he posted. Reposting her video, he slammed the CM’s conduct as a ‘disgraceful assault on Adivasi pride and the Constitution.’ His tribal identity adds weight to the condemnation.
The episode unfolds against a backdrop of simmering Centre-state hostilities. Bengal’s administration faces flak for politicizing a ceremonial visit meant to honor tribal legacy. Opposition voices demand probes into the last-minute changes, seeing them as deliberate sabotage.
Rijiju’s comments have ignited social media storms and op-eds, framing the slight as emblematic of deeper governance issues. With tribal communities pivotal in eastern politics, this could boomerang on ruling dispensations. Ultimately, it reinforces the imperative to uphold the Presidency’s sanctity, urging leaders to prioritize duty over discord.