President Murmu criticises protocol lapses during West Bengal visit

President Droupadi Murmu has expressed disappointment with the government of West Bengal over alleged protocol lapses and a last-minute change of venue during her visit to attend a tribal cultural conference, prompting sharp political reactions across India.

The issue has sparked a public dispute between the federal government and the state’s ruling party after Prime Minister Narendra Modi criticised the incident and said it reflected poorly on the treatment of the country’s head of state.

Concerns raised during Darjeeling district visit

President Droupadi Murmu travelled to the Darjeeling district of West Bengal on Saturday to attend the ninth International Santal Conference, an event organised by the International Santal Council to celebrate and discuss the heritage and culture of the Santal tribal community.

During the visit, the President voiced concern that the location of the conference had been changed from the initially planned venue in Bidhannagar, under the Phansidewa administrative block, to Gossainpur in the Bagdogra area on the outskirts of Siliguri.

Speaking at another event during her trip, she questioned the decision to move the gathering to what she described as a smaller location.

“Mamata is like my little sister. Maybe she is angry. I don't know why she chose to organise an international event in such a cramped venue,” the President said, referring to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

She suggested that a larger venue could have allowed significantly greater participation.

“Had the venue been bigger, more people would have attended the conference,” she added, noting that the earlier proposed location could have accommodated several hundred thousand attendees.

Protocol concerns raised

The President also highlighted what she described as shortcomings in the official reception arrangements.

According to her remarks, neither West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee nor a state government minister was present to receive her upon arrival, a step that is commonly observed under established ceremonial protocol for visits by the country’s President.

Such protocol arrangements are typically followed to reflect the constitutional status of the President, who serves as India’s head of state.

The comments made by the President were unusual because sitting Presidents in India rarely publicly express dissatisfaction with arrangements made during official visits.

Political reaction from the central government

The episode quickly drew political responses from the national government in New Delhi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi criticised the West Bengal administration led by the All India Trinamool Congress, describing the situation as deeply concerning.

In a message posted on social media platform X, the Prime Minister said the remarks from the President had caused distress across the country.

“This is shameful and unprecedented. Everyone who believes in democracy and the empowerment of tribal communities is disheartened,” Mr Modi wrote.

He added that the state government’s handling of the visit had undermined the dignity of the President’s office.

“The pain and anguish expressed by Rashtrapati Ji, who herself hails from a tribal community, has caused immense sadness in the minds of the people of India,” the Prime Minister said.

Mr Modi further criticised the state government’s approach to the cultural event itself.

“It is equally unfortunate that a subject as important as Santal culture is treated so casually by the West Bengal Government,” he said.

Focus on Santal cultural gathering

The International Santal Conference is organised to highlight the traditions, history and social issues of the Santal people, one of the largest tribal communities in India.

Santals primarily live in eastern India, including West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha and parts of neighbouring states, and the conference is attended by community leaders, scholars and representatives from across the region and abroad.

The event is intended to promote awareness of indigenous cultural heritage and encourage discussion on social and economic challenges faced by tribal communities.

Observers say the presence of President Murmu, who belongs to the Santhal tribal community herself, carried particular symbolic importance for the gathering.

Political implications

The controversy has added to existing political tensions between the federal government led by the Bharatiya Janata Party and the state government in West Bengal, which is governed by the regional All India Trinamool Congress party.

Public disagreements between the two administrations have occurred on several issues in recent years, including governance, federal relations and cultural policy.

However, analysts note that disputes involving the office of the President are relatively rare because the role is constitutionally non-partisan and largely ceremonial.

The latest episode has therefore drawn significant attention within India’s political landscape.

Officials from the West Bengal government had not issued a detailed response immediately following the remarks, though political leaders in the state have previously said that logistical decisions for large events are often influenced by security, infrastructure and organisational considerations.

Despite the controversy, the conference itself proceeded as scheduled, with participants focusing on discussions related to tribal identity, language preservation and cultural traditions.

The incident nevertheless highlights the sensitivities surrounding official protocol and the symbolic significance of the President’s office in India’s constitutional system.