'Maybe Mamata Didi is angry with me': President Droupadi Murmu questions event venue change during Bengal visit

Speaking at Gosainpur in the Phansidewa area of north Bengal, Murmu described Banerjee as someone close to her and expressed uncertainty over why she faced difficulties attending certain programmes in the state.

“Mamata didi is like my sister, younger sister. Maybe she is angry with me,” Murmu said during her address.

The President was on a two-day visit to the state and attended the International Santhal Conclave in the region.

Event venue shift raises questions

Murmu made the remarks while speaking at the conclave held at Gosainpur in Phansidewa, located about 576 kilometres north of Kolkata.

Organisers had initially planned to hold the event at Bidhannagar near Siliguri, an area known for its significant Santhal population. 

However, according to reports, local authorities did not grant permission for the programme to take place there, and organisers then shifted the venue to Gosainpur.

While addressing the gathering, Murmu raised questions about the arrangements and the nature of the event.

“How should an international Santhal conference look like?” she asked, noting that several members of the Santhal community were standing outside the venue.

She added that she had noticed many Santhal attendees were unable to enter the event site.

“I feel somebody is stopping them from entering,” Murmu said. “While on the way, I kept thinking — is this an international conference? Somebody does not want the Santhal to stand united.”

After the Gosainpur event concluded, Murmu travelled to Bidhannagar, where she interacted with local residents and addressed people without a formal stage.

During the interaction, she said the location in Bidhannagar appeared more suitable for hosting the international gathering due to its open and spacious environment.

“I do not know what happened with the administration. We came here quite easily. They had told us this place was congested,” Murmu said.

She suggested that a significantly larger gathering could have been accommodated at the site.

“I feel five lakh people could have assembled here. I do not know why they took us there. Not many of our brothers and sisters from here could attend,” she added.

Murmu said she visited the area to observe the living conditions and community life of the Santhal population in the region.

Focus on Santhal community

The President emphasised that her visit to the region aimed to connect with members of the Santhal community and understand their living conditions.

The Santhals are one of the largest tribal communities in eastern India, with significant populations across West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha and neighbouring states.

Murmu’s presence at the conclave was intended to highlight the importance of tribal heritage and community engagement.

North Bengal has hosted presidential visits in the past as well. 

In 2016, then President Pranab Mukherjee travelled to Darjeeling during his tenure.

During that visit, the state government organised an official reception in his honour at Chowrasta Square in Darjeeling.

Mukherjee also participated in events marking the birth anniversary of renowned Nepali poet Bhanubhakta Acharya and addressed the annual general meeting of the Darjeeling Tea Association.