New Delhi, March 11 BJP Rajya Sabha member Baburam Nishad on Wednesday criticised the West Bengal government for alleged lapses during President Droupadi Murmu's event in the state, saying violation of protocol is not just a mistake but a constitutional offense.
Raising the issue during Zero Hour in the House, he said there was a violation of protocol during the President's visit to the state last week.
He said that when a state government deliberately disregards the highest office in the country, it forgets that it is in power after taking an oath on the Constitution.
He further said that it is time for "mere censure" to be insufficient, but a special law, such as the constitutional responsibility act, should be enacted to deal with such crimes.
"If a state government deliberately violates the protocol of the President or constitutional heads, then proceedings under Article 356 should be initiated," Nishad stressed.
Also, criminal cases, similar to contempt of court, should be initiated against ministers and officials responsible for ensuring that protocol is followed, he said.
President Murmu had expressed her displeasure over the change of venue of the Santal conference, which she attended in the state, and the absence of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her ministers during her visit.
Murmu was invited to the annual programme, originally scheduled at Bidhannagar in Siliguri. However, citing security and other logistical reasons, authorities shifted the venue to Goshaipur near Bagdogra airport.
When the President arrived at the venue on Saturday afternoon, only a handful of people were present. Siliguri Mayor Gautam Deb was the only state government representative present at the airport to receive her.
Murmu said that she was "very sad" that the people were unable to reach the conference because it was held so far away.
On Sunday, Chief Minister Banerjee asserted that there was no breach of protocol at Murmu's programme in Siliguri and said that the responsibility of mismanagement at the function, if any, lies with its private organisers and the Airports Authority of India who provided the venue of the event.