AGARTALA: President Droupadi Murmu arrived in Agartala on Wednesday for a two-day visit to Tripura, but controversy broke out when the Union MoS (empowerment and social justice) Pratima Bhoumik entered the runway to receive her without invitation and evaded the list of protocols, even as tribal leaders were missing in the reception committee.
Chief minister Manik Saha had not included anybody’s name, except some officers in the reception programme of President Murmu at the airport, which triggered serious reaction from party functionaries here. The central leaders had directed the state government to win over tribal voters with a warm welcome planned for Murmu’s visit.
Governor Satyadeo Narain Arya, CM Dr Manik Saha along with few cabinet colleagues and top officials of the state welcomed her in the airport.
Opposition parties also reacted sharply over the incident with the CPM issuing a statement: “There was no tribal leader, including the deputy chief minister Jishnu Dev Varma or the tribal woman minister in the state cabinet Santan Chakma in the reception of the President, which shows BJP is not actually respecting tribal; but using the sentiment to get votes.”
“We found today no tribal minister or MLA was invited to receive her in the airport, which is most indecent and exposed further the factional feud in state BJP and it’s government. Instead, CM went with a bunch of officers including the rank of SP and DM,” commented former BJP minister and now Congress MLA Sudip Roybarman.
The police sources admitted that except CM nobody from the cabinet and the ruling party was included in the list of the reception of President, but Union minister Bhoumik went to the runway without prior security clearance.
Deputy CM Jishnu Dev Varma refused to comment on the controversy but said, “I am not aware of the matter. Please ask the chief minister who is holding the portfolio of political affairs and home.”
A women contingent of 180 personnel of Tripura police offered guard of honour to the President as high security arrangements across the city were in place.
Besides imposing restrictions on traffic movement in the major roads of the city for two days, Tripura police deployed a large number of security personnel on the roads, markets and public places, including vital installations.
From the airport, Murmu inaugurated Tripura Judicial Academy and laid the foundation for National Law University at nearby Narsingarh in a brief programme. Thereafter, she attended a special function organised by tea workers at Durgabari tea-estate near the airport before returning to Raj Bhawan for lunch.
