NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday hit back at the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress, calling it a “fake news factory” after the West Bengal chief minister accused the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi of insulting President Droupadi Murmu.The row erupted after the President expressed displeasure over arrangements during her visit to Bengal to attend an international Tribal conference near Siliguri, including the change of venue and the absence of senior state representatives to receive her at Bagdogra airport.
The BJP’s West Bengal unit responded to Banerjee’s allegation that PM Modi had insulted the President by remaining seated while she stood to present an award to BJP leader LK Adavani, saying in a post on X that the claim was misleading and accusing the TMC of spreading misinformation.
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“TMC’s Fake News factory at it again. The truth behind TMC’s manufactured outrage,” the party said. “As per official protocol during the presentation of Bharat Ratna award, others present remain seated while the award is being conferred. There was absolutely no breach of decorum,” the post added.The BJP further said, “It is shameful that TMC is once again trying to twist a dignified moment involving the Hon’ble President Smt Droupadi Murmu, PM Shri Narendra Modi and Bharat Ratna Shri LK Advani for petty politics. Respect the dignity of the highest constitutional office instead of spreading misinformation.”The political exchange intensified after PM Modi earlier on Sunday accused the TMC government of “insulting” a tribal woman President.Responding at a protest in Kolkata, Banerjee rejected the allegations and questioned the timing of the criticism, suggesting it was politically motivated ahead of the state assembly elections.Banerjee also displayed an enlarged photograph of an event showing the Prime Minister seated while the President stood nearby to present the Bharat Ratna award to veteran BJP leader LK Advani, saying it contradicted the BJP’s charge.“The picture shows that the PM is seated when the President is standing. We never do that. It is the BJP which carries the culture of insulting the President, not us,” she claimed while presenting the image as “evidence”.“You are targeting Bengal on the eve of assembly elections by saying whatever pleases you. Why? Why? Why?” she added from the sit-in platform in central Kolkata.She reiterated that the state government had “full respect for the chair of the President and the Constitution of India, which we consider our mother; do not blame us”.The chief minister also denied any breach of protocol during Murmu’s visit and said the state government had not been informed about the details of the programme by the organisers.According to Banerjee, if there had been mismanagement at the venue, including issues such as garbage, problems with the green room and the absence of women’s toilets, the responsibility lay with the private organisers and the Airports Authority of India, on whose premises the event was held.“We did not pick the venue, you did,” she said.Banerjee added that Siliguri mayor Goutam Deb had been present at Bagdogra airport to receive the President and maintained that protocol had been followed. Explaining her own absence, she said, “I am sitting in a dharna to protect people’s rights. How can I leave?”
