A political row erupted in West Bengal between the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the principal opposition, the Bharatiya Janata Occasion (BJP), minutes after chaos erupted on the Salt Lake stadium in Bidhannagar metropolis, throughout an occasion of Argentine soccer icon Lionel Messi.
Chief minister Mamata Banerjee apologised to Messi on X after followers went berserk and stated that she has arrange a three-member enquiry committee headed by retired choose Justice Ashik Kumar Ray to probe into the incident.
“I’m deeply disturbed and shocked by the mismanagement witnessed at this time at Salt Lake Stadium. I used to be on my technique to the stadium to attend the occasion together with hundreds of sports activities lovers and followers who had gathered to catch a glimpse of their favorite footballer, Lionel Messi. I sincerely apologise to Lionel Messi, in addition to to all sports activities lovers and his followers, for the unlucky incident,” Banerjee wrote on X.
This, nevertheless, couldn’t cease a political slugfest between the rival events within the state. Whereas the BJP blamed the TMC-led authorities and the state police, the ruling occasion was fast to clean its fingers off whereas holding the organisers liable for the mess.
“This incident as soon as once more proves that vulgarity is simply one other title of TMC. It may have been a proud second for West Bengal {that a} footballer of such a reputation got here to town. However TMC leaders tried to hijack the occasion and it turned out to be a complete mess. The police too failed to indicate their professionalism,” stated Sukanta Majumdar, Union minister and BJP chief.
“The incident is a results of the failure of the organisers. The state authorities or the TMC are on no account related to this. Aroop Biswas, being the state sports activities minister, went there as a visitor on invitation. He was not related to the organisers. A number of applications have been held within the stadium earlier,” stated Debangshu Bhattacharya, state spokesperson of the TMC.
TMC, nevertheless, alleged that there have been some folks within the stadium who may very well be seen protesting with saffron flags and shouting “Jay Shree Ram” slogans.
“Some folks may very well be seen damaging properties. They had been carrying saffron flags and shouting ‘Jay Shree Ram’ slogans. BJP, in a bid to malign West Bengal, can go to any extent. So, it must also be investigated as to who had been behind the riot and damaging properties. The chief minister has already ordered a probe,” stated Bhattacharya.
The Congress too skilled its weapons towards the TMC demanding the arrest of the state sports activities minister who was current on the stadium and was seen interacting with Messi.
“Did Messi come to fulfill the state sports activities minister? TMC leaders by no means lose an opportunity in relation to hobnobbing with celebrities and pose for images with them. The persons are disadvantaged even after paying hefty value for tickets. This a failure of the Mamata Banerjee-administration and the police. They gave the permission to carry this system. They’ll’t shrug off their duty,” stated Suman Roy Chaudhuri, Congress chief.
Not glad with the state authorities’s order for a probe into the incident, BJP legislator and chief of the opposition within the state legislative meeting Suvendu Adhikari, wrote a letter to Governor CV Ananda Bose, demanding a probe by an impartial committee headed by a choose of the Calcutta excessive court docket.
“In an try to deflect public outrage, the chief minister has arrange an enquiry committee. This committee is structurally compromised, legally infirm and morally indefensible,” Adhikari wrote in his letter to the Governor.
The governor rushed to the stadium on Saturday night to take inventory of the scenario.
“I would like an evidence from the authorities as to why such a factor occurred. Many skeletons within the cabinet can be unearthed,” he stated.
