PM Modi Criticises West Bengal Government Over Protocol Row During President Murmu’s Visit

PTI, March 8, 2026, New Delhi/Kolkata: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday stepped up his attack on the All India Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal over the treatment meted out to President Droupadi Murmu, saying the "enlightened people" of the state will never forgive the party for "insulting" a woman tribal leader and the President of the country.

"Today, as the nation celebrates International Women's Day, it is deeply concerning that just yesterday, the TMC government in West Bengal demonstrated a grave insult towards the honourable President of India, Draupadi Murmu," the Prime Minister said in the national capital after inaugurating two new Delhi Metro corridors and other projects.

Modi's remarks came after President Murmu expressed displeasure over the change of venue of a conference of the tribal Santal community in West Bengal on Saturday and the absence of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her ministers during her visit.

Soon after, Mamata had accused the President of speaking "on the advice of the BJP" and had questioned her silence on alleged atrocities against tribals in states like Manipur and Chhattisgarh.

The BJP lashed out at the TMC government for "insulting" the President, while PM Modi termed it "shameful and unprecedented" and accused the TMC of crossing all limits.

On Sunday, the Prime Minister said the TMC government's actions not only resulted in the mismanagement of the tribal community event but also constituted an affront to the President, the Constitution and the noble tradition of democracy in the country.

"President Murmu ji visited Bengal to attend a significant celebration honouring the Santal tribal tradition. However, the TMC chose to boycott this sacred and important event, which holds great meaning for both the President and the tribal community," he said.

Modi said the President herself is from a tribal background and has shown deep concern for the Santal community. The Prime Minister also said the "enlightened" people of West Bengal will never forgive TMC "for insulting a woman, for insulting a tribal, and for insulting the honourable President of the country".

"The country will not forgive either, the tribal society of the country will never forgive either, and the women's power of the country will never forgive either," he said.

Hitting back, Mamata on Sunday accused the Prime Minister of "insulting" the country's highest Constitutional chair.

To support her claim, the TMC supremo held up an enlarged photograph of the PM remaining seated at an event with veteran BJP leader Lal Krishna Advani, with the President standing next to them. The photograph was purportedly of the March 2024 event of President Murmu awarding Advani at his New Delhi residence with the nation's highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna.

"The picture shows that the PM is seated when the President is standing. We never do that. It is the BJP which carries the culture of insulting the President, not us," she claimed, while displaying the photograph as "evidence".

Speaking from the platform of the ongoing anti-SIR dharna in central Kolkata, Mamata asserted there was no breach of protocol at the President's programme, adding that the responsibility of mismanagement at the function, if any, lay with its private organisers and the Airports Authority of India who provided the venue of the event.

"The PM had put out a tweet on Saturday, and I have responded to it. I said the programme wasn't organised by the state, it was arranged by a private organisation. The state had sent a letter stating that the private body lacks the capability of organising such an event. They did not involve us," she said.

Despite the input that the organisers are incapable, it was the choice of the President to accept that invitation, the Chief Minister said.