Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju expressed disappointment over the last-minute relocation of the 9th International Santal Conference, calling it unfortunate for West Bengal and the nation. He highlighted the challenges faced by the first tribal President of India, Droupadi Murmu, emphasizing the non-political and constitutional significance of her position.
Rijiju condemned the actions of the West Bengal government, stressing that the President’s role symbolizes the highest constitutional dignity of the country, transcending political affiliations. He denounced the decision to shift the conference venue, which led to inconvenience for participants and drew criticism from various quarters.
President Droupadi Murmu voiced her displeasure at the sudden change in venue during the Santal Conference in Darjeeling. The event, originally planned in Phansidewa, had to be moved to a smaller location in Gossaipur due to alleged security concerns raised by the state administration. The President also expressed disappointment at the lack of interaction with the state’s leadership during her visit.
The West Bengal government, under the Trinamool Congress, faced backlash for its handling of the event attended by President Murmu. Despite social media rebuttals from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and party general secretary Abhisek Banerjee, criticisms regarding the incident persist.
