What Happened During President Murmu's Visit to West Bengal? A Look at the Protocol Controversy
West Bengal Government Responds to Protocol Concerns
Kolkata: The West Bengal administration has addressed the inquiries raised by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) concerning alleged protocol breaches during President Droupadi Murmu's recent visit to the state.
The MHA requested a report from Chief Secretary Nandini Chakraborty on Sunday morning, setting a deadline of 5 P.M. the same day for a response.
An insider from the state secretariat confirmed that a comprehensive reply was submitted, although they did not disclose specific details, stating only that clarifications were provided regarding the protocol issues highlighted by the MHA.
On Sunday, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee hinted at the clarifications the state government would present to the MHA regarding the alleged protocol violations.
She stated, “Upon the President's arrival at Bagdogra Airport near Siliguri on Monday, the Mayor of Siliguri Municipal Corporation, Goutam Deb, along with the District Magistrate of Darjeeling and the Commissioner of Siliguri Metropolitan Police, were present to welcome her according to protocol. There was no breach of protocol. I, as Chief Minister, was not scheduled to welcome her or be on stage at the event. With the district administration present, there was no possibility of a protocol violation.”
Originally, the President was expected to arrive in North Bengal on Friday afternoon, but her visit was postponed for unavoidable reasons.
She landed at Bagdogra Airport at 11:30 AM on Saturday and was scheduled to attend a tribal community function in the Phansidewa area near Siliguri, which was later moved to Gossaipur.
Following the change of venue, the President expressed her displeasure. She eventually visited Phansidewa, where the event was initially planned, and subtly criticized the state administration while referring to Mamata Banerjee as her younger sister.
The President also noted that neither the Chief Minister nor any Cabinet members greeted her during her visit, which deviated from the customary protocols for presidential visits.
This prompted a heated exchange between BJP leaders and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, leading the MHA to seek clarifications from the state government regarding the protocol issues.