Days after President Droupadi Murmu’s tour of West Bengal became a political flashpoint between the BJP-led Union government and the Trinamool Congress-led State government, a TMC request to meet the President to brief her on “welfare and development programmes for the upliftment of tribal communities” has been turned down by the President’s Secretariat, citing paucity of time.
During her visit, Ms. Murmu had publicly expressed displeasure over the arrangements made for an event she attended in Bengal and had also questioned why Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee did not meet her during the trip.
Also Read | Protocol lapses at President event: West Bengal Government submits report to Centre
On March 9, the Trinamool Congress wrote to the President seeking an appointment for a delegation comprising party MPs and Ministers from the West Bengal government. “The delegation wishes to proudly share with you the many initiatives by the government of West Bengal, under the leadership of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, for the inclusive development of all sections of society,” the letter stated.
The TMC said the State government had, for more than a decade, implemented “path-breaking welfare and development programmes” aimed at uplifting tribal communities, including initiatives in education, social security, livelihood support, and infrastructure development for SC, ST, and OBC communities across the State.
