President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday expressed dissatisfaction over the venue arrangements during her visit to Siliguri, where she attended the 9th International Santal Conference. She also pointed out protocol concerns, noting that neither West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee nor any state minister was present to receive her during the one-day visit.
Addressing an audience at another programme in Bidhannagar, the President said the conference venue in Siliguri was too small for an international gathering. She remarked that a larger venue could have accommodated far more attendees and compared it with the Bidhannagar location, stating that lakhs of people could have participated had the event been organised there. Referring to the Chief Minister, she said Mamata Banerjee was like a younger sister to her but added that she was unsure why the event had been arranged at a comparatively cramped site.
The West Bengal unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party criticised the state government, alleging a breach of constitutional norms and disrespect toward the office of the President. In a statement on social media platform X, the party said the situation reflected administrative failure and institutional disregard, and raised concerns over governance standards in the state.
At the 9th International Santal Conference, organised by the International Santal Council, the President praised India’s tribal communities for preserving their traditions and cultural heritage over generations. According to updates shared by Rashtrapati Bhavan, Murmu—who belongs to the Santal community and is the first tribal President of India—encouraged tribal communities to embrace modern development while safeguarding their folk traditions and protecting the environment. She also urged them to learn other languages and scripts while staying rooted in their native language and identity.
The President had originally been scheduled to depart for Darjeeling on March 6 for a two-day visit, but the itinerary was revised following the abrupt resignation of West Bengal Governor C. V. Ananda Bose. Subsequently, the President appointed R. N. Ravi, currently serving as Tamil Nadu Governor, to take additional charge as the new Governor of West Bengal.
