Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday slammed the All India Trinamool Congress-led government in West Bengal for showing gross disrespect towards President Droupadi Murmu during her recent visit to the state.
Addressing a public event in the national capital on the occasion of International Women’s Day, the Prime Minister said the President had gone to Bengal to attend a major celebration of the Santhal, but instead of honouring the President, the TMC boycotted the event. He highlighted that the event was significant for both the President and the tribal community.
“Today, as the nation celebrates International Women’s Day, it is deeply concerning that just yesterday the TMC government in West Bengal demonstrated gross disrespect towards the honourable President of India, Droupadi Murmu,” Modi said. He added that the programme held special importance as Murmu herself comes from a tribal background and has consistently voiced concern for the welfare of the Santhal community.
#WATCH | Delhi: PM Narendra Modi says, “Droupadi Murmu had gone to Bengal to attend a major celebration of the Santhal. But instead of honouring the President, the TMC boycotted this sacred and important event. She herself comes from the tribal community and has been concerned… pic.twitter.com/1BnBCPpBey
— ANI (@ANI) March 8, 2026
The Prime Minister further alleged that the state government’s actions led to mismanagement of the event and amounted to an affront to the President, the Constitution and democratic traditions. “The TMC government’s actions not only resulted in the mismanagement of the event but also constituted an affront to the President, the Constitution, and the noble tradition of democracy in our country,” he said.
Meanwhile, Modi also talked about a major milestone in women’s empowerment under the government’s Lakhpati Didi initiative. He said the target of enabling three crore women to become “Lakhpati Didis” had been achieved. “A few years ago, we made a commitment to empower three crore women to become Lakhpati Didi. At the time many doubted our resolve, but I am proud to announce that more than three crore women have now achieved this milestone,” the Prime Minister said.
#WATCH | Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, ” Now the government has decided to add three crore more Lakhpati Didis in the country. I have full faith that with the blessings of the country’s women, this pledge will definitely be fulfilled.” pic.twitter.com/rIn5fpThyH
— ANI (@ANI) March 8, 2026
The remarks come a day after controversy erupted during President Murmu’s event in Darjeeling, where she expressed displeasure over the absence of senior representatives from the West Bengal government. “If the President visits a place, the Chief Minister and the Ministers should also come. But she did not,” Murmu said, referring to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.