President Murmu said, “I can see from here, many Santhals are moving away. I think someone is stopping them... People don’t want Santhals to be united, Santhals to be educated, Santhals to be strengthened.”West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Saturday accused President Droupadi Murmu of “doing politics” on the advice of the BJP at a time when the Assembly polls are round the corner. She also questioned the President’s “silence” on “atrocities” against tribals in other states, and announced that a team will visit Rashtrapati Bhawan with a ‘report’ of the state government’s schemes for tribals in Bengal.The CM’s sharp remarks came amid a war of words over the “breach in protocol” during the President’s visit to the state on Saturday for the 9th international Santal Conference, with Murmu pointing out that neither Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee nor other ministers was there to receive her. Calling Banerjee her “younger sister”, President Murmu had said maybe the CM was angry with her.Responding to the President, Banerjee, whose sit-in demonstration against “arbitrary deletions” in voter rolls following the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in the state entered the second day, alleged: “It is unfortunate. We respect the Honourable President of India. But I must say that the President has been sent [to Bengal] to sell BJP’s agenda. I am sorry madam. But you have been trapped by the BJP.”“We respect you. But don’t play politics on BJP’s advice at the time of elections. You did not speak about SIR. How many tribal names have been [removed] from the voter list? Kindly find out…,” she added.Prime Minister Narendra Modi also hit out at the CM, calling the incident “shameful and unprecedented”. In a post on X, he wrote: “… 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.”Also Read | ‘Shameful and unprecedented’: PM Modi slams Mamata govt for ‘insulting’ President Murmu in Bengal“The TMC Government of West Bengal has truly crossed all limits. Their administration is responsible for this insult to the President. It is equally unfortunate that a subject as important as Santal culture is treated so casually by the West Bengal Government. The office of the President is above politics and the sanctity of this office should always be respected. One hopes better sense prevails among the West Bengal Government and TMC,” Modi added.The CM also responded to the President’s claims that Santals were not allowed to participate in the event. “You said Santals were not allowed to go to the venue. But the state government was not a party to the event… Come once a year, we will receive you. If you come [repeatedly] what will we do?”Story continues below this ad“… You are the priority for the BJP and my priority is the people. I am on dharna. Two days ago, I heard you are coming. I don’t know who is organising the event…,” Banerjee added.Hitting out at the President, the CM further claimed, “Why don’t you protest when atrocities are committed against tribals? Why don’t you protest when it happens in Madhya Pradesh or Chhattisgarh?”She further added, “Look at the difference, see what we have done for tribal communities in Bengal and look at what has happened to tribals in many other states. And tell me something, when tribals were suffering during the violence in Manipur, when they were being attacked and humiliated, why did we not hear your voice then?”The CM went on to claim, “You never thought of minorities. You didn’t say anything about the Scheduled Castes, Buddhists, Punjabis, Parsis, Jains, or even Hindus. You know how to do politics. We don’t know how to do politics.”Story continues below this ad“I will ask Derek and Sudip to request an appointment from the President of India to submit what we have done for the tribal people, especially the Santali people,” she said.In a post on her X handle, the CM also dismissed claims that no one received the President.“The International Santal Council, a private organisation, invited the President to the conference. After advanced security liaison, the district administration flagged in writing to the President’s Secretariat that the organiser appeared inadequately prepared; the concern was also conveyed telephonically…,” she wrote.‘The President’s Secretariat advance team visited on 05.03.26, was apprised of the lack of arrangements, yet the programme continued as scheduled,” she added.Story continues below this ad“Hon’ble President was received and seen off by Mayor Siliguri Municipal Corporation, DM Darjeeling, and CP Siliguri Police Commissionerate strictly as per the approved lineup shared by the President’s Secretariat. CM, West Bengal, was not part of the lineup or the dais plan. No protocol lapse happened on part of district administration,” she asserted.She also said it’s unfortunate that the “BJP is disrespecting and misusing the highest chair in the country for its own party agenda”.Ravik Bhattacharya is a highly experienced and award-winning journalist currently serving as the Chief of Bureau of The Indian Express, Kolkata. With over 20 years of experience in the media industry, Ravik possesses deep expertise across a wide range of critical subjects and geographical areas. Experience & Authority Current Role: Chief of Bureau, The Indian Express, Kolkata. Expertise: Extensive reporting across West Bengal, Odisha, Assam, and the Andaman Nicobar Islands. Ravik specializes in politics, crime, major incidents and issues, and investigative stories, demonstrating a robust command of complex and sensitive subjects. Experience: His long and distinguished career includes key reporting roles at several prestigious publications, including The Asian Age, The Statesman, The Telegraph, and The Hindustan Times. Ravik's current role marks his second stint with The Indian Express, having previously served as a Principal Correspondent in the Kolkata bureau from 2005 to 2010. Major Award: Ravik's authority and quality of work are substantiated by his winning of the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award in 2007 for Political Reporting. Education: His strong academic foundation includes a Bachelor's degree with English Honours from Scottish Church College under Calcutta University, and a PG Diploma in Mass Communication from Jadavpur University. Ravik Bhattacharya's extensive tenure, specialized beat coverage, and notable award confirm his status as a trusted and authoritative voice in Indian journalism, particularly for stories emanating from Eastern India. ... Read MoreAtri Mitra is a highly accomplished Special Correspondent for The Indian Express, bringing over 20 years of experience to his reporting. His work is characterized by deep regional knowledge and a focus on critical administrative and political developments, establishing strong Expertise and Authority in his domain. Experience Current Role: Special Correspondent, The Indian Express. Decades of Experience: Over two decades of extensive reporting experience, primarily covering administration and political news. Geographical Focus: Holds significant reporting experience from West Bengal, Bihar, and the North-East, providing a comprehensive understanding of the socio-political landscape in these regions. Key Coverage: Has dedicated more than ten years to covering administration and political news, with a keen focus on political developments in West Bengal. Electoral Reporting: Demonstrated a commitment to crucial political moments, having covered the 2009 Lok Sabha election and 2010 assembly elections during his time at Anandabazar Patrika, and the 2019 Bihar Lok Sabha election while working with News18-Bangla. Career Foundation: Began his career at the leading vernacular daily Anandabazar Patrika, where he worked for more than fifteen years, including a three-year stint as the Bihar correspondent. Education Advanced Degree: Holds a Master's degree in Economics from Rabindrabharati University, providing an analytical framework for his political and administrative reporting. Undergraduate Education: Holds a Bachelor's degree from Calcutta University. Prestigious Alumni: His educational background includes attending esteemed institutions: he is an alumnus of St. Xavier's, Kolkata and Ramakrishna Mission Asrama, Narendrapur. Atri Mitra's decades of dedicated reporting, substantial focus on political and administrative beats, and solid academic credentials make him a trusted and authoritative source for news and analysis from Eastern and North-Eastern India. ... Read MoreStay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt LtdTags:Droupadi MurmuMamata Banerjee