• Source:JND

The row over the protocol lapse during President Droupadi Murmu's visit to Darjeeling escalated further as West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday doubled down on her attack on the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying that he insulted the country's highest constitutional chair in 2024. CM Mamata held up an enlarged photograph of PM Modi seated beside veteran BJP leader LK Advani while the President stood next to them. In response, the BJP on Monday came down heavily on Mamata, reminding her of the Bharat Ratna presentation protocol.

The photograph dates back to March 2024, when President Murmu awarded Bharat Ratna to Advani at his New Delhi residence. "The picture shows that the PM is seated when the President is standing. We never do that. It is the BJP which carries the culture of insulting the President, not us," Mamata claimed, while displaying the photograph as "evidence".

CM Mamata's renewed attack came after PM Modi lashed out at the TMC government over the treatment meted out to President Murmu. While targeting the TMC government, the PM said the "enlightened people" of the state will never forgive the party for "insulting" a woman tribal leader and the President of the country.

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BJP Slams TMC's Fake News Factory

"TMC's Fake News factory at it again. The truth behind TMC's manufactured outrage. As per official protocol during the presentation of Bharat Ratna award, others present remain seated while the award is being conferred. There was absolutely no breach of decorum. It is shameful that Trinamool is once again trying to twist a dignified moment involving the Hon'ble President Smt. Droupadi Murmu, PM Shri Narendra Modi and Bharat Ratna Shri LK Advani for petty politics. Respect the dignity of the highest constitutional office instead of spreading misinformation," the BJP's Bengal unit posted on X.

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On Saturday, President Murmu expressed a rare displeasure over the change of venue of the International Santal Conference of the tribal Santal community in the north Bengal town of Siliguri. She also expressed displeasure over the absence of Banerjee and her cabinet ministers during her visit.

However, Mamata defended her government, denying any protocol lapses. Speaking at the anti-SIT dharna, in central Kolkata, Banerjee asserted that the responsibility of mismanagement at the function, if any, lay with its private organisers and the Airports Authority of India who provided the venue of the event.

"The PM had put out a tweet on Saturday, and I have responded to it. I said the programme wasn't organised by the state, it was arranged by a private organisation. The state had sent a letter stating that the private body lacks the capability of organising such an event. They did not involve us," she said.

She added that required inputs regarding the organiser's incapability were shared with the President's team, but still, the program proceeded.

"How can we be made responsible for the allegation that people did not turn up at the event? The responsibility lies with the organisation which planned it. They never asked us to send our people to the venue, except providing us with information about the function," Banerjee said.

The President's displeasure triggered the Centre's action as they set a deadline for the state government to respond to the "violations" of the rules related to protocol, venue and route arrangements during the President's visit.


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