"Modi is sitting while President stands": TMC questions who is insulting Droupadi Murmu now?

A political confrontation intensified in West Bengal after Mamata Banerjee strongly rebutted allegations by Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the Trinamool government had disrespected President Droupadi Murmu during her recent visit to Siliguri. Addressing a rally at Dharmatala’s Dharmamancha on Sunday, the Chief Minister displayed a photograph showing Murmu standing beside veteran leader Lal Krishna Advani while Modi appeared seated on a chair, questioning the BJP’s claims of disrespect.

The controversy erupted after the Prime Minister accused the West Bengal government twice within 12 hours of failing to accord proper respect to the President during her state visit. The remarks triggered a sharp political exchange between the Centre and the Trinamool Congress, with the state government and Rashtrapati Bhavan drawn into an unusual public dispute.

Responding to the allegations from the stage, Banerjee held up the photograph and asked the audience to examine it closely. “Look at the picture. The honorable President is standing and the Prime Minister is sitting. Who is insulting whom?” she said, using the image to challenge the BJP’s criticism and defend her government against the charges.

The same photograph was also used by Trinamool leaders across campaign events. At a public meeting in Mathurapur, MP Abhishek Banerjee echoed the attack, arguing that the BJP had no grounds to accuse the state government of disrespect. He claimed the allegations were politically motivated and accused the central leadership of insulting the people of Bengal after repeatedly failing to win elections in the state.