NEW DELHI: A delegation of MPs from the All India Trinamool Congress had sought an appointment with President Droupadi Murmu to brief her on the welfare initiatives undertaken by the West Bengal government, but the request was declined due to “paucity of time”, news agency PTI reported.According to a PTI source familiar with the matter, a senior TMC leader wrote to the President on March 9 seeking time for a delegation of around 12 to 15 members, including party MPs and state ministers. The delegation intended to meet Murmu to discuss the West Bengal government’s welfare programmes aimed at the “inclusive development of all sections of society”.However, the request was turned down, with Rashtrapati Bhavan informing the party that the meeting could not be scheduled because of time constraints, the source said.The TMC has since written again to the President’s office seeking an appointment next week.The development comes amid a political controversy triggered during Murmu’s recent visit to Bagdogra, where she attended an international conference of the Santal tribal community. During the visit, the President expressed displeasure over the absence of chief minister Mamata Banerjee and her cabinet colleagues at Bagdogra airport to receive her.Murmu also questioned the state government’s decision to shift the venue of the event from Bidhannagar to a location near Bagdogra airport, wondering whether the administration expected that fewer people would attend.Following the remarks, Banerjee accused the President of speaking “on the advice of the BJP” and questioned her silence on alleged atrocities against tribal communities in states such as Manipur and Chhattisgarh.The Bharatiya Janata Party sharply criticised the TMC government over the incident, accusing it of disrespecting the President. Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the episode as “shameful and unprecedented” and alleged that the ruling party had crossed all limits.The controversy has intensified political tensions in West Bengal, where the BJP has emerged as the principal opposition to the Banerjee-led TMC government, which is currently serving its third consecutive term in power.
