President Droupadi Murmu expressed displeasure over the West Bengal government’s decision to relocate the 9th International Santal Conference to a smaller venue in Darjeeling district, where she was the chief guest. Originally planned in Phansidewa, the event was moved to Gossaipur due to security concerns raised by the state administration. President Murmu also highlighted the lack of protocol, mentioning that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee did not meet her during the visit, contrary to customary practices.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) criticized the venue change, labeling it as a sign of a “constitutional collapse” in the state. BJP’s Amit Malviya, the party’s IT cell chief for West Bengal, condemned the incident, emphasizing the breakdown of constitutional norms under the current administration. Malviya pointed out the unprecedented nature of the President openly expressing dissatisfaction and the denial of permission for the conference where she was the key dignitary.
Malviya further underscored the disrespect shown towards the President’s office, indicating a severe governance failure in West Bengal. He highlighted the incident as a reflection of the deteriorating administrative and constitutional standards in the state. The absence of acknowledgment or response from the West Bengal government or the Trinamool Congress added to the escalating tensions surrounding the event.
