In the midst of the massive Centre versus TMC controversy triggered by President Droupadi Murmu’s visit to West Bengal to attend a tribals-focused programme, the organiser has made allegations of “non-cooperation" against the local administration.
Naresh Murmu, who is the working president of the International Santhal Council, alleged that besidesprotocol lapse, there were multiple venue changes and difficulty in issuing passes for the programme.
According to Naresh Murmu,the event was originally planned last year but had to be rescheduled following violence in Murshidabad. This also led to the President’s visit being cancelled.
Naresh said his organisation is an international body, and it was keen on organising the event and was in touch with state minister Moloy Ghatak about the arrangements. He said the event was initially planned in Bangladesh and later scheduled to be held in Bidhannagar in North Bengal.
He said the organisers sent a letter to Rashtrapati Bhavan and held a meeting with the local administration on February 16, but the district magistrate was not present at that meeting. On February 21, the organisation received a call from Rashtrapati Bhavan informing them that the administration had conveyed that the programme could not be held at the proposed venue, he added.
Subsequently, Naresh said, another location about 800 metres away from Bidhannagar was suggested. The organisers visited the site, but on February 25 they again received an email saying the venue was unsuitable, he said.
The administration, he said, then proposed two alternative locations – Khawkhali and Gosainpur near Bagdogra airport. They eventually selected Gosainpur out of compulsion, he added.
Naresh further alleged that the administration told them that passes for the programme will not be issued. He said he tried to contact Ghatak about the matter.
He also claimed that the President spoke to them on February 25 and expressed disappointment over the situation. She wanted to visit the original venue as she wished to meet members of the tribal community, he added.
“We tried to hold the programme in Bidhannagar, but we could not; they were not giving passes for the new venue, we are deeply hurt by the developments. The President saw that many tribal people were unable to attend the event, she too was upset, so she went to Bidhannagar," Murmu alleged.
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