New Delhi, March 16 The Trinamool Congress has written a third letter to President Droupadi Murmu seeking an appointment to "inform her about the West Bengal government's welfare initiatives" after its earlier requests for a meeting were turned down, party sources said.
The developments came in the backdrop of the controversy during the President's visit to West Bengal early this month, where she had expressed displeasure over how the state administration handled a tribal conclave and protocol issues.
According to sources in the Trinamool Congress (TMC), a senior party leader wrote to the President on Monday seeking an appointment. This is the third such letter the Mamata Banerjee-led party has sent to Murmu after her office denied their initial request, citing "lack of time", they said.
According to a source familiar with the developments, a senior TMC leader had written to President Murmu on March 9, seeking an appointment for a 12-to-15-member party delegation comprising MPs and state ministers.
The letter said the delegation wanted to share with Murmu the welfare initiatives taken by the West Bengal government for "inclusive development of all sections of society".
The request was, however, turned down.
The Rashtrapati Bhavan sent a communication informing the TMC that its request was considered but could not be acceded to due to "lack of time", the source claimed.
The TMC leader wrote to the President again on March 11 seeking an appointment, but received no response.
Now, a third letter requesting an appointment was sent to the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Monday, the source said.
A major political controversy erupted after the President, on March 7, questioned the West Bengal government's decision to shift the venue of a conclave of the Santal tribal community she attended, wondering if the administration had hoped that no one would be able to attend the event.
She also expressed displeasure that neither Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee nor any state minister was present during her visit.
Soon after, Banerjee accused the President of speaking "on the advice of the BJP" and also questioned her "silence" on alleged atrocities against tribals in states like Manipur and Chhattisgarh.
The BJP lashed out at the TMC government for "insulting" the President, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi termed it "shameful and unprecedented" and accused the TMC of crossing all limits.
