Kolkata, March 7 (IANS). West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The attack was over President Draupadi Murmu’s displeasure over the allotment of a small venue by the West Bengal government for the 9th International Santhal Conference to be held at Gosaipur in Darjeeling district. The President was the chief guest in this conference.
Addressing the Special Intensive Review (SIR) protest that began on Friday at Esplanade East in central Kolkata, Chief Minister Banerjee accused the BJP of misusing the presidency to defame West Bengal.
He said where has BJP taken the Constitution today? Now he (President) has also been sent to promote the politics of BJP and fulfill the agenda of BJP. I’m sorry, madam. I respect you very much. But you have fallen into the trap of BJP.
Claiming that the President has accused the West Bengal government of deliberately preventing people from attending the International Santhal Conference, the Chief Minister said such allegations were baseless, as the state government was not the organizer of the event.
Mamta Banerjee said that this was not a state program. The state government was not even aware of this program. We get information about when she will arrive and when she will leave. We try to arrange as much as possible. But if someone comes every day, how can I be present every time? Don’t we have work to do? Do we have to follow you around all the time? Come once a year, I will pick you up. If you come 50 times a year, I don’t have time to attend every time.
She also said that she could not meet the President as she was participating in the ongoing anti-SIR protest in public interest.
The Chief Minister said that you may be the priority of BJP, but my priority is the general public.
Chief Minister Banerjee also reacted to the President’s concerns over the lack of development of the tribal community in the state and questioned why the President remained silent when atrocities were being committed against tribals in Manipur.
The Chief Minister asked why did you not protest then? You remain silent when atrocities are committed against tribals in other states. Why is West Bengal always the target?
–IANS
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