TNI Bureau: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday criticised the All India Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal over what he described as an insult to President Droupadi Murmu and the country’s tribal communities.

In a post on X, the Prime Minister said the manner in which the President was treated during a recent incident in the state had deeply hurt tribal communities across India.

He said such behaviour towards the President, who comes from a tribal background, reflects disrespect not only to the country’s highest constitutional office but also to the tribal society.

Modi said the President symbolises the hopes and aspirations of millions of tribal citizens and deserves the highest level of dignity and respect. He added that insulting the President amounts to insulting the entire tribal community.

The Prime Minister also criticised the state government, saying those in power in West Bengal should apologise for the incident and reflect on their conduct.

President Murmu, who hails from a tribal family in Odisha, is the first tribal woman to hold the office of the President of India. The issue has sparked a political row, with the Bharatiya Janata Party accusing the Trinamool Congress of disrespecting the President and tribal communities.

The controversy is likely to further intensify the political confrontation between the BJP and the ruling party in West Bengal.