Kolkata, 09 March (H.S.) : The West Bengal government has sent its response to the Ministry of Home Affairs (India) regarding allegations of protocol violations during the recent visit of President Droupadi Murmu to North Bengal. In its report, the state government denied any lapse and stated that local authorities followed all prescribed procedures.

According to sources, the Home Ministry had sought an explanation from the office of the state’s Chief Secretary Nandini Chakravorty on Sunday morning and had set a deadline of 5 p.m. the same day to submit the report. A senior official at the state secretariat confirmed that a detailed response has been sent to the ministry, though the contents of the report have not been made public.

The official said that the state government provided point-by-point clarifications on all issues related to protocol raised by the ministry.

Earlier on Sunday, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had also responded to the controversy, stating that President Murmu was received at Bagdogra Airport in accordance with established protocol. According to the Chief Minister, Gautam Deb, the District Magistrate of Darjeeling and the Commissioner of Siliguri Metropolitan Police were present at the airport to welcome the President.

Banerjee said there had been no prior plan for her to personally receive the President or attend the programme on stage, and therefore the question of a protocol violation did not arise.

President Murmu was originally scheduled to arrive in North Bengal on Friday afternoon, but the programme was postponed due to unavoidable reasons. She eventually reached Bagdogra on Saturday at around 11:30 a.m.

The President was to attend a programme organised by members of the tribal community in the Phansidewa area of Darjeeling district. However, the venue was later shifted to Gossaipur, triggering controversy over the change.

Murmu later visited Phansidewa as well, where the programme had originally been scheduled. There, she expressed mild displeasure with the state administration, remarking that while Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is like a “younger sister” to her, neither the Chief Minister nor any member of her cabinet met her during the state visit, which she said was not in keeping with traditional protocol.

Following the President’s remarks, a political war of words broke out between leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The Home Ministry subsequently sought a clarification from the state government regarding the entire episode.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh