President was in Bengal but CM not reached, President’s Venue also changed

A change in the venue of 9th International Santhali Conclave in West Bengal, and the absence of chief minister Mamata Banerjee and other ministers at the event attended by President Droupadi Murmu, turned into a war of words with not just the President herself, but Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressing his disapproval of the state’s decision.

As per reports, today , President Murmu attended the tribal community conclave that was initially supposed to take place in Bidhannagar but later moved to a smaller venue in Goshaipur near the Bagdogra Airport citing congestion. This change did not sit well with the President, who said she was “very sad that the people here were unable to reach the conference because it was held so far away”.

“Perhaps the administration had hoped that no one would be able to attend, and the President would simply turn around and leave…” Murmu, who belongs to the Santhal community, said while addressing a gathering at Phansidewa near Siliguri.

PM Modi reacted, too, saying that “the TMC Government of West Bengal has truly crossed all limits” in an angry post. “This is shameful and unprecedented. Everyone who believes in democracy and the empowerment of tribal communities is disheartened. The pain and anguish expressed by Rashtrapati Ji, who herself hails from a tribal community, has caused immense sadness in the minds of the people of India,” Modi wrote in a post on X as he shared a video of President Murmu speaking at the event.

Murmu also questioned why the venue of the International Santhal Conference – an event for the tribal community that she was attending as the chief guest – was changed from Bidhannagar to Goshaipur, where the turnout was reportedly low.

“I do not know why the state administration did not allow the meeting there. There is ample space. I am also a daughter of Bengal. Mamata Banerjee is like my younger sister. I do not know whether she is upset, which is why the programme was held there (in Goshaipur). But that does not matter. All of you stay well,” the President said.

Speaking at the event, Murmu said the Centre has given a new identity to tribal pride in the past decade and a new impetus to development for the tribal community. But she had pointed questions for the Bengal government.

“Is development taking place for Santhals and tribals in this region? I don’t think so. Are the development and facilities (from the Centre) reaching you? I don’t think so…. I think some people are being stopped from coming here (to this event)… Maybe some people don’t want the Santhals to unite, progress, be educated and gain strength,” she said.(updated on 7th March 2026)