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President Droupadi Murmu expresses displeasure over ‘breach of protocol’ during Bengal visit, MHA seeks report from state

President Droupadi Murmu visited West Bengal for the 9th International Santhal Conference on Saturday.

2 min readNew DelhiMar 8, 2026 12:05 PM IST

President Droupadi Murmu paid tribute to Swami Vivekananda on National Youth Day, praising his vision of inner strength and service.

President Droupadi Murmu also said the venue for the program was shifted by the administration, and many Santhals were allegedly stopped from attending. (File Photo)

A day after President Droupadi Murmu expressed her disappointment for not being accorded a formal welcome by West Bengal chief minister and other ministers, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan sought a detailed report from West Bengal chief secretary over alleged lapses when the President visited the state for the 9th International Santhal Conference on Saturday.

A source said Mohan has asked West Bengal Chief Secretary Nandini Chakravorty to share the details of all the arrangements made by the administration for President Murmu. “The report has been sought by 5 pm on Sunday,” according to a senior government source.

The source also said the Centre has cited possible violations of the ‘Blue Book’ – the manual that prescribes security and protocol arrangements for visits by the President, Prime Minister, and other VIP dignitaries. The alleged lapses pertain to protocol, route safety, and venue management during the President’s participation in the International Santhal Conference.

The incident sparked a controversy, with the Opposition BJP and the Congress hitting out at the chief minister.

During her address at the event, President Murmu openly expressed disappointment that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and other state ministers did not give her a formal reception upon arrival.

She also said the venue for the program was shifted by the administration, and many Santhals were allegedly stopped from attending. The program was initially supposed to be held in Bidhannagar under Phansidewa block in Darjeeling district, but the administration shifted the venue to Gosainpur in Siliguri.

During her address, President Murmu said, “I can see from here, many Santhals are moving away. I think someone is stopping them… People don’t want Santhals to be united, Santhals to be educated, Santhals to be strengthened.”

Mahender Singh Manral

Mahender Singh Manral is an Assistant Editor with the national bureau of The Indian Express. He is known for his impactful and breaking stories. He covers the Ministry of Home Affairs, Investigative Agencies, National Investigative Agency, Central Bureau of Investigation, Law Enforcement Agencies, Paramilitary Forces, and internal security. Prior to this, Manral had extensively reported on city-based crime stories along with that he also covered the anti-corruption branch of the Delhi government for a decade. He is known for his knack for News and a detailed understanding of stories. He also worked with Mail Today as a senior correspondent for eleven months. He has also worked with The Pioneer for two years where he was exclusively covering crime beat. During his initial days of the career he also worked with The Statesman newspaper in the national capital, where he was entrusted with beats like crime, education, and the Delhi Jal Board. A graduate in Mass Communication, Manral is always in search of stories that impact lives. ... Read More

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