Mamata Banerjee to Droupadi Murmu: Save India from disaster

CM flags Bengal’s inclusivity and appeals to Murmu to protect Constitution

Droupadi Murmu and Mamata Banerjee at the civic reception hosted for the former in Calcutta on Monday.: Pradip Sanyal

Devadeep Purohit   |   TT  |   Calcutta   |   28.03.23  : Mamata Banerjee appealed to President Droupadi Murmu to protect the Constitution and save the country from a disaster as the chief minister addressed a civic reception hosted by the Bengal government for the latter here on Monday.

The plea has come in the backdrop of allegations from the BJP’s rivals that never before did the Republic face so many threats to the Constitution. 

Unlike her political speeches, where she regularly mentions the need to protect the Constitution, Mamata did not elaborate on the reasons behind her plea. But the ardent appeal, though without referring to the BJP or its leadership, captured the chief minister’s attempt to reach out to Rashtrapati Bhavan at a time Opposition parties were planning to put up a fight against the BJP. 

“Madam President, you are the constitutional head of this country... you are here, my humble submission to you to protect, Madam, please protect the Constitution and the constitutional rights of the poor people of this country. We would request you to save this country from a disaster, “ Mamata said before winding up her address at the civic reception that the state government hosted for Murmu at the Netaji Indoor Stadium here.

Bengal governor C.V. Ananda Bose was present at the programme.

“Unity in diversity is our origin,” added Mamata, who took care to explain that the society in Bengal was all about inclusivity as she mentioned Hindu and Muslim festivals in the same breath. 

Although the chief minister did not explain what she meant by “disaster” facing the country, sources close to her said the matter didn’t require any elaboration in view of all that had been happening in the country for some years.

The use of central investigation agencies like the Enforcement Directorate and the CBI on Opposition parties, pause on the flow of funds to states ruled by non-BJP parties, attack on minorities and denial of space to the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha are some of the issues that Mamata has been highlighting in almost all her public addresses. 

Most opposition parties, including the Congress, have often highlighted these issues in public and taken them up with the President behind closed doors. 

“The chief minister didn’t miss out on the opportunity of talking about the threats to the Constitution in front of the President at a public programme.... The CM also subtly conveyed to the President that she expected her to rise to the occasion and save Indian democracy according to the Constitution,” said a Trinamul Congress MLA, who attended the civic reception.

Multiple sources in the state government said a lot of planning had gone behind the civic reception for Murmu because of a number of reasons. 

In the Presidential polls in July last year, Mamata played a key role in getting the Opposition parties together in fielding Yashwant Sinha as their candidate. After the BJP-led NDA named the then Jharkhand governor as its nominee, Mamata did soften her stand on Murmu, but the saffron camp continued attacking her for putting up a candidate against a tribal woman.

“With this public reception, the chief minister tried to send out a message to the tribal community that the criticisms against her were wrong.... Besides, she also tried to charm the President, against whom she had put up a candidate, by organising a grand programme,” said a senior bureaucrat.

The Trinamul government had organised a similar programme for Pranab Mukherjee after he had assumed the highest office in 2012.

The fact that Murmu was impressed by the hour-long programme, during which Mamata matched her steps with tribal women, was clear during the President’s speech. 

“I was very happy to see the chief minister dancing with the tribal women, matching their steps.... This is a great example of inclusivity,” said Murmu, complimenting the chief minister’s ability to mix with all sections of the society.

The President’s entourage was also happy with the show, a Trinamul MLA said referring to a conversation among senior officials accompanying the President she had overheard. “They were discussing among themselves the turnout at the stadium, which had around 10,000 people,” said the MLA.