The Central government has sought an explanation from the West Bengal administration over lapses in the protocol during the visit of President Droupadi Murmu to attend a tribal conference in West Bengal on Saturday.
Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan asked the West Bengal Chief Secretary to submit a detailed report by 5 PM on Sunday regarding the failure to follow the prescribed protocol for receiving the President, the last-minute change in the venue of the International Santal Conference, the route change, and other logistical arrangements during her visit.
President Murmu publicly expressed disappointment with the West Bengal government over the arrangements made for the event, raising concerns over the decision to shift the venue of the International Santal Conference in the Darjeeling district and the absence of state ministers to receive her.
Originally, the conference was scheduled to be held at Bidhannagar under the Phansidewa block in the Darjeeling district. However, the state government shifted the venue to Gossainpur in the Bagdogra area, located on the outskirts of Siliguri in the same district.
After attending the conference at Gossainpur, President Murmu travelled nearly 30 kilometres to Bidhannagar, where she addressed residents and voiced her dissatisfaction over the change of venue.
She suggested that the original venue at Bidhannagar had sufficient space to accommodate a large gathering and questioned the rationale behind shifting the event.
Murmu also expressed concern over the absence of representatives of the state government during her visit.
