New Delhi: All-India delegation of Trinamool Congress MPs seeks appointment with President Draupadi Murmu She was briefed on the welfare initiatives taken by the West Bengal government, but the request was rejected due to “lack of time”, news agency PTI reported.According to PTI sources, a senior TMC leader wrote to the President on March 9, seeking time to send a delegation of 12 to 15 members, including party MPs and state ministers. The delegation intends to meet Murmu to discuss the West Bengal government’s welfare schemes aimed at “inclusive development of all sections of society”.However, sources said the request was rejected and Malacañang informed the party that the meeting could not be arranged due to time constraints.Following this, the TMC once again wrote to the President’s office seeking the appointment next week.The development comes amid political controversy over Murmu’s recent visit to Bagdogra, where she attended an international meeting of the Santhal tribal community. During visit, President expressed dissatisfaction over Chief Minister’s absence Mamata Banerjee and her cabinet colleagues to greet her at Bagdogra Airport.Murmu also questioned the state government’s decision to shift the venue of the event from Bidhan Nagar to near Bagdogra airport, wondering if the government expected a reduction in the number of participants.After delivering her speech, Banerjee accused the President of speaking “on the advice of the BJP” and questioned her silence on atrocities against tribal communities in states like Manipur and Chhattisgarh.The Bharatiya Janata Party severely criticized the TMC government over the incident, accusing it of disrespecting the President. Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the incident as “shameful and unprecedented” and claimed that the ruling party had crossed all boundaries.The controversy has heightened political tensions in West Bengal, where the BJP has emerged as the main opposition to the Banerjee-led TMC government, which is currently in power for a third consecutive term.
