On Saturday, Prime Minister Modi firmly blamed the West Bengal government, led by the Trinamool Congress, for not following the right procedures, which he said was disrespectful to President Droupadi Murmu. The problem is about the International Santhali Conclave being moved at the very last moment, and simple things not being organised well at the event.
What happened during the President’s visit
President Murmu was going to be the main guest at the International Santhali Conclave in Bidhannagar. Because of worries about traffic, the authorities changed the place to Goshaipur, close to Bagdogra Airport. People organising the event said there weren’t enough stages and no toilets.
The President went to Bidhannagar in the Phansidewa area after being moved, and talked to local Adivasi people. She said the new place would mean fewer people could come, and that the original place could have taken a lot more, as she explained.
What Modi said and the main points he made
In a message on X, the social media site, Prime Minister Modi called the whole thing ‘a disgrace and something which has never happened before’, and said the state government had ‘really gone too far’. He said the event was a blow to the role of President, and that the position must be kept above politics, and be given total respect.
Modi also said that, because the President came from a tribal background, the pain she felt was felt by everyone in India. He asked the West Bengal government and TMC to be more sensible, and to give Santal culture the seriousness it needs.
How politicians responded and what they said against each other
The BJP quickly used the argument, saying it was a ‘complete failure of the way the country is governed’ in West Bengal. Leaders in the party pointed to the fact that the original place wasn’t allowed, and to what they saw as mistakes in the procedures during the President’s visit, as proof that the administration had failed.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her party did not agree with that view, and said the BJP were using the President’s visit to make politics. Banerjee told the President ‘not to get involved in politics’, and said the national opposition was using the situation to damage the state’s name.
What this means for tribal people being represented and the correct procedures in administration
Officials and people who watch what happens said the event raised wider questions about how the government deals with events which are meant to show the culture of tribal people. The Santal community were disappointed by the practical problems which meant that the people who were meant to come couldn’t get in, and the event’s purpose was made less.
People who know about procedures said that visits by the head of a country need careful planning to avoid politics, and to make sure the ceremonies are fully respected. The argument shows the difference between making decisions in administration and sending political messages in a country which is divided.
What will happen next and what could come out of it
Both sides are under pressure to calm things down and to deal with the gaps in planning and making sure everyone is included. The central government has asked for correct behaviour, and local authorities may be checked over the decisions which led to the change of place at the last minute.
A useful follow-up could be a formal look at how the event was organised, and promises for future cultural gatherings. To get people’s trust back, there needs to be honest answers about the change of place, and steps to make sure tribal communities can come and take part fully.
The event has attracted the nation’s attention not just because of the political fighting, but because of what it means for tribal people getting power, the administration being responsible, and respect for the offices of the country’s government. How the state government and national leaders act in the next few days will make how the public thinks before wider political fights.
