Pawan Kalyan Criticizes West Bengal for Disrespecting President Murmu

Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan on Sunday expressed deep concern over remarks by President Droupadi Murmu regarding the conduct of the International Santal Conference held in Darjeeling, West Bengal. Posting on X, he described the situation as “painful and sad” for the Santhal community.

Pawan Kalyan emphasized that events celebrating cultural heritage must uphold dignity, participation, and respect for the communities they honor. “It is regrettable that circumstances arose where members of the Santhal community themselves found it difficult to attend the conference meant for them. Such cultural gatherings must reflect inclusivity, sensitivity, and proper administrative planning,” he said.

The Jana Sena leader highlighted the constitutional significance of the President’s office. “The office of the President of India holds the highest constitutional respect in our nation and must always be treated with the dignity it deserves. Ensuring that the Hon’ble President’s visit is conducted with utmost regard is the responsibility of the concerned administration,” he added.

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Echoing similar concerns, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu stated on X that he was deeply saddened by the anguish caused to the President. “The office of the President represents the dignity of our Republic and must always be treated with the highest respect and courtesy. In a vibrant democracy, constitutional institutions are above politics, and it is our collective duty to uphold their sanctity,” Naidu posted.

The Andhra Pradesh BJP unit also criticized the West Bengal government. Party president PVN Madhav called the incident “extremely unfortunate and condemnable,” asserting that any insult to the President is “effectively an insult to the Constitution and the people of India.” He directly criticized the state government led by Mamata Banerjee for showing disregard towards the President.

The controversy surrounding the International Santal Conference has sparked wider debate about the organization of cultural events and the responsibilities of state administrations to ensure inclusivity, respect, and smooth conduct, especially when constitutional dignitaries are involved. The remarks by prominent Andhra Pradesh leaders underline the political sensitivity and constitutional importance of such events in India.

Also Read: Santal Contributions to Freedom Struggle Overlooked, Education Urged by President Murmu