Kolkata, March 7: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee launched a sharp attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday. This criticism was directed at President Droupadi Murmu’s discontent regarding the allocation of a small venue for the 9th International Santhal Conference in the Darjeeling district. The President was the chief guest at this event.
While addressing a protest against the Special Intensive Review (SIR) that began on Friday in central Kolkata’s Esplanade East, Banerjee accused the BJP of misusing the presidency to tarnish West Bengal’s image.
She questioned, “Where has the BJP taken the Constitution today? Now, even the President has been sent to promote BJP’s politics and fulfill its agenda. I am sorry, Madam. I respect you greatly. But you have fallen into the BJP’s trap.”
Claiming that the President had intentionally accused the West Bengal government of preventing people from attending the International Santhal Conference, Banerjee stated that such allegations were baseless, as the state government was not the organizer of the event.
Banerjee emphasized, “This was not a state event. The state government was not even aware of this program. We receive information about when she will arrive and when she will leave. We try to make arrangements as best as we can. But if someone comes every day, how can I be present each time? Don’t we have work to do? Should we follow you everywhere? Come once a year, and I will come to receive you. If you come 50 times a year, I cannot be present every time.”
She also mentioned that she could not meet the President as she was participating in the ongoing SIR protest for public interest.
The Chief Minister stated, “You may be the BJP’s priority, but my priority is the common people.”
Banerjee responded to the President’s concerns about the lack of development for tribal communities in the state, questioning why the President remained silent when atrocities were occurring against tribals in Manipur.
She asked, “Why didn’t you protest then? You remain silent when tribals are oppressed in other states. Why is West Bengal always targeted?”
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