Photo in hand, Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee flags ‘proof of who respects President’
Times of India | 9 March 2026
KOLKATA: Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee dug out on Sunday an undated picture of PM Narendra Modi seated and President Droupadi Murmu standing at an event, flagging it as “proof of who actually shows respect” while contesting his charge that the TMC govt had “gravely insulted” the presidential chair with a protocol breach at Siliguri the previous day.
“Why were you sitting when she was standing?” Mamata said from her SIR protest dais. “We honour every person holding constitutional posts. PM attacks and disrespects Bengal before every election,” the CM said alleging that Bengal was being singled out ahead of the assembly polls.
Mamata insisted state govt had written to the organisers of the International Santal Conference on March 4, citing its inability to be part of the event. “But the Centre ignored it. If anything went wrong at the event, Centre should be held responsible,” she said.
The Siliguri conference, the CM insisted, was a private programme the state had never been asked to support, adding that the venue was under Airport Authority of India’s jurisdiction. The row appeared to unite the opposition behind TMC. Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said the President’s office must not be used to “advance BJP’s political agenda”.