PM Modi vows to defeat Trinamool’s arrogant politics after ‘insult’ to President: Modi

A day after President Droupadi Murmu expressed her disappointment over the West Bengal government’s arrangements for the International Santhal Conference in Darjeeling and not adhering to protocol, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hit out at the Trinamool Congress saying the party “insulted the President, the Constitution and democratic principles.” He said the “arrogant politics” of the Trinamool Congress will soon be defeated.

“Today, as the country celebrates Women’s Day, I want to share something which is very painful,” he said in New Delhi. “Yesterday, the Trinamool government insulted the President. She had gone there to participate in a sacred event of the Santhal community, but the Trinamool, instead of participating in it, boycotted the event.”

Praising Ms. Murmu, the Prime Minister said, “President Murmu is from the Adivasi society and has worked a lot for the upliftment of the Santhal community.”

Calling the treatment meted out to the President “heart-wrenching”, Mr. Modi said the Trinamool government did not make proper arrangements for the event. “This is an insult to the President, the Constitution and its spirit, and the democratic principles of the country,” he said, adding that the Trinamool also insulted the “mothers and sisters” of the country.

West Bengal votes in the next few months and the BJP, the main Opposition in the State, is aiming to unseat the Mamata Banerjee government that has been in power for 15 years. Sounding the poll bugle, the Prime Minister Modi said, “Today, from the national capital, I am telling you all, the politics of the Trinamool which makes it insult an Adivasi will be defeated soon.”

Calling the Trinamool “arrogant”, Mr. Modi quoted a proverb and said, “It has been noted that those who are extremely arrogant and drunk in power, even they are ultimately destroyed.”

On Saturday, President Murmu expressed displeasure over the change of venue of the conference and the absence of Chief Minister Banerjee and her Ministers during her visit.

Hitting back, Ms. Banerjee accused the President of speaking “on the advice of the BJP”, questioning her “silence” on the alleged atrocities against tribals in Manipur.

(With inputs from PTI)