New Delhi: bjp Monday hit back at Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool CongressWest Bengal chief minister calls BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi a ‘fake news factory’ after insulting president Draupadi Murmu.The row broke out after the president expressed dissatisfaction with the arrangements for 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 greet her at Bagdogra airport.
Reacting to Banerjee’s allegation that Prime Minister Modi insulted the President by remaining seated while presenting an award to BJP leader LK Adavani, the West Bengal unit of the BJP said in a post on X that the claim was misleading and accused the TMC of spreading misinformation.“TMC’s fake news factory is at it again. The truth behind the outrage created by TMC,” the party said.The post added: “As per official etiquette during the presentation of the Bharat Ratna Awards, other persons present remained seated during the presentation of the award. There was absolutely no breach of etiquette.”The BJP further said, “It is shameful that the TMC is once again trying to distort the solemn moments involving the honorable President Smt Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Bharat Ratna Shri LK Advani for narrow political purposes. Respect the dignity of the highest constitutional office and not spread misinformation.”Earlier on Sunday, political exchanges intensified after Prime Minister Modi accused the TMC government of “insulting” a tribal woman president.Banerjee denied the allegations while responding to protests in Kolkata and questioned the timing of the criticism, suggesting it was politically motivated ahead of state assembly elections.Banerjee also showed an enlarged photo of the event showing the Prime Minister seated while the President stood nearby to present the Bharat Ratna Award to senior BJP leader Advani, saying this contradicted the BJP’s allegations.“The photo shows the Prime Minister sitting while the President is standing. We never do that. It is the BJP with the culture of insulting the President, not us,” she claimed while citing the photo as “evidence”.“You can say whatever you want against Bengal on the eve of the assembly elections. Why? Why? Why?” she added at the sit-in platform in central Kolkata.She reiterated that the state government “fully respects the President and the Constitution of India and we consider India to be our mother; don’t blame us”.The chief minister also denied any breach of protocol during Murmu’s visit and said organizers were yet to inform the state government about the details of the plan.Banerjee said the responsibility lies with private organizers and the Airports Authority of India, which hosts events, if there is mismanagement of venues, including issues with garbage, lounge issues and lack of women’s toilets.“We didn’t choose the venue, you did,” she said.Banerjee added that Siliguri mayor Goutam Deb had welcomed the president at Bagdogra airport and insisted that the protocol had been followed. Explaining her absence, she said: “I sit in the altar to protect people’s rights. How could I leave?”
