Kolkata, March 8
In context of the developments surrounding the recent visit of the President of India Droupadi Murmu to West Bengal, Member of Parliament from Malda North and State President of the BJP’s Scheduled Tribe Morcha in West Bengal Khagen Murmu today addressed a press conference. During the presser, he stated that the conduct of the State Government during the recent visit of the President to West Bengal was not only contrary to constitutional protocol but also amounted to disrespect towards the highest constitutional office of the country and the entire tribal community.
Murmu stated that the President of India represents 140 crore people of the country and, according to the Constitution, holds the highest constitutional office in the nation. According to him, when such a dignitary visits West Bengal, it is the constitutional responsibility of the State Government to welcome her with due protocol and dignity. “However, in reality, not only was the Chief Minister absent at the airport, but even no senior representative of the State Government was present. He described this incident as a shameful chapter for West Bengal”, he added.
Murmu further alleged that President Droupadi Murmu had come to Siliguri to attend an international tribal conference, which was not an event of any political party. Despite this, permission for the originally designated venue of the conference was repeatedly denied, forcing the organisers to change the location several times and ultimately the President had to travel as far as Bagdogra. According to Khagen Murmu, such behaviour is an insult not only to the President but also to the entire tribal society of the country.
Murmu said that the tribal community across the country felt proud and joyful when Droupadi Murmu was elected as the first tribal woman President of India. “However, the circumstances created during her visit to West Bengal have hurt that sense of dignity”, he said, while alleging that for a long time the Trinamool Congress Government has been using the tribal community merely as a vote bank rather than giving them genuine respect.
Murmu further stated that there have been numerous incidents of atrocities and neglect against tribal communities in the state—such as the attack on a pregnant woman in Phansidewa, atrocities against tribal women, and various instances of deprivation in different areas. According to him, these incidents clearly show that the safety and dignity of the tribal community in the state remain under serious question.
Murmu also alleged that the Trinamool Congress Government gives importance to tribal communities, Rajbanshis, Matuas and other communities only during elections but in reality does not take any effective steps for their development. He further claimed that although rights over water, forests and land are the fundamental rights of tribal communities, they are being deprived of these rights in West Bengal.
Regarding the reported move of the Union Home Ministry seeking a report on the President’s visit, Murmu stated that the matter must be properly investigated and that the State Government must be held accountable. According to him, disrespecting the highest constitutional office of the country cannot be accepted under any circumstances. He further demanded that the Chief Minister of the state should take moral responsibility for the incident and, if necessary, resign from the post. According to him, the incident has insulted not only the President but also crores of tribal women and the entire tribal society of the country.
Murmu also said that in protest against the incident, members of the tribal community in different districts of the state have already taken to the streets and are expressing their protest through democratic means. He stated that in the upcoming elections the tribal community will respond to this insult and politically reject the Trinamool Congress.
At the end of the press conference, he stated that the people of West Bengal are ready for change and that in the coming days, through the formation of a new government under the leadership of the BJP, development, dignity and constitutional values will be restored in the state.
