Mamata Banerjee’s “President Standing” photo attack is fact-checked by the BJP. In the PM

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are at odds over President Droupadi Murmu’s recent visit to the state. A two-year-old photo of the Prime Minister sitting while the President is standing has been used by the leader of the Trinamool Congress to criticize the Prime Minister. The Trinamool’s “fake news factory” is disseminating false information, according to the BJP’s fact-check response.

“The Prime Minister keeps making grand claims about respecting the President’s office. Let us take a good look at this photo. The country’s first tribal woman President stands while the Prime Minister sits comfortably in his chair. All proclamations of respect for the President ring hollow when visual evidence reveals such casual disregard for her office,” the Trinamool has said, sharing a short video of Banerjee’s remarks at a public rally.

In the film, two Trinamool leaders are shown clutching a 2024 portrait of President Murmu, Prime Minister Modi, and BJP elder Lal Krishna Advani. The portrait was taken on March 31, 2024, when Advani was presented with the Bharat Ratna by the President and Prime Minister.

“Honourable Prime Minister, this is for you. Do you respect the President, a woman and a tribal leader? Then why is the President standing and you are sitting? I have shown you all, we respect (the President), but they don’t. This photograph proves who respects and who does not,” she said.

The Prime Minister, she said, attacks Bengal like a “vote bird” before every election and says “whatever he wants”. “I have responded to your tweet that we did not organise the event (which the President attended). A private organisation organised it, and the state government said the organisation did not have the capability to organise a programme for the President. They did not involve us. It is the honourable President’s choice that they accepted the invitation. It is their prerogative, not hours,” she said.

The BJP responded sharply, citing the protocol for Bharat Ratna presentation. “TMC’s Fake News factory at it again. The truth behind TMC’s manufactured outrage. As per official protocol during the presentation of Bharat Ratna award, others present remain seated while the award is being conferred. There was absolutely no breach of decorum. It is shameful that Trinamool is once again trying to twist a dignified moment involving the Hon’ble President Smt. Droupadi Murmu, PM Shri Narendra Modi and Bharat Ratna Shri LK Advani for petty politics. Respect the dignity of the highest constitutional office instead of spreading misinformation,” the BJP’s Bengal unit said in a post on X. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the developments as “shameful and unprecedented”. “Everyone who believes in democracy and the empowerment of tribal communities is disheartened. The pain and anguish expressed by Rashtrapati Ji, who herself hails from a tribal community, has caused immense sadness in the minds of the people of India,” he said in a post on X.