Kumar Bahukhandi
BJP slams Mamata for chaos at Messi event in Kolkata-Photo Credit-ANI
The BJP accused the Trinamool of political one-upmanship as the sports gala for Messi at Salt Lake Stadium turned into a nightmare.
Kolkata: As chaotic scenes unfolded during star footballer Lionel Messi’s event at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata, the BJP ripped into West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her Trinamool party for “complete mismanagement.”
Angry fans broke security protocols and threw chairs and bottles, unable to catch a glimpse of their icon during his nearly half-hour appearance in the stadium that turned out to be a virtual nightmare for the organisers.
Calling it “total embarrassment,” the BJP alleged “zero planning” and a lack of security for the global legend’s Kolkata event.
Kolkata: As chaotic scenes unfolded during star footballer Lionel Messi’s event at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata, the BJP ripped into West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her Trinamool party for “complete mismanagement.”
Angry fans broke security protocols and threw chairs and bottles, unable to catch a glimpse of their icon during his nearly half-hour appearance in the stadium that turned out to be a virtual nightmare for the organisers.
Calling it “total embarrassment,” the BJP alleged “zero planning” and a lack of security for the global legend’s Kolkata event.
“Thousands of fans who gathered with hope couldn’t even catch a glimpse of him while inept TMC leaders surrounded him! A global legend, a massive public turnout, and yet zero planning. A total embarrassment on an international stage. Mamata can’t even organise or manage an event,” said BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari.
Banerjee has apologised to Messi and the fans and announced an inquiry by a former judge.
Messi, an icon for millions of football fans across the world, had arrived in Kolkata early this morning in the first leg of his three-day India tour. After unveiling a statue of himself in the city, he had reached Salt Lake Stadium, where his fans had gathered to catch a glimpse of their favourite footballer.
However, many couldn’t, despite paying between Rs 3,500 and Rs 14,000 for a ticket, as the BJP accused “inept Trinamool leaders” of surrounding the player.
The frustration exploded into a violent outburst as hundreds of fans stormed the ground. Some even threw bottles and chairs. Vandalism of stadium infrastructure followed, as the police struggled to ensure law and order. With the situation spiraling out of control, Messi had to be whisked away by the organisers of the ‘GOAT tour,’ including promoter Shatadru Dutta.
Superstar Shah Rukh Khan, former India captain Sourav Ganguly, and Chief Minister Banerjee couldn’t participate in the event as it was cut short amid the chaos.
The BJP accused the Trinamool of political one-upmanship as the sports gala turned into a nightmare, with spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala alleging “sheer mismanagement.”
“TMC leaders surrounded him, and fans were denied! Messi had to leave asap! What if something would have happened to fans or the guest? This was like what we say in Bengaluru stampede where many lost lives,” said Poonawala.
The BJP’s IT cell chief, Amit Malviya, called it a “huge disgrace” that will remain etched in the pages of history forever and called for the resignation of the state sports minister.
“For bringing an international player like Messi to West Bengal, playing with the emotions of ordinary people, and pushing them towards such serious risk, the State Sports Minister, Aroop Biswas, must resign immediately,” he said.
The Trinamool, in an attempt to defend itself from the allegations, hit out at the organisers.
“Why wasn’t Messi kept alone ahead during the stadium lap? Why were the gallery spectators deprived? Did this enhance Kolkata’s reputation? Why didn’t the incompetent organisers leave even a mark of minimal planning? Just money? Just business? Because of these organizers and some hooligans, everyone was deprived. Kolkata was shamed. The spectators’ anger is justified,” said Trinamool leader Kunal Ghosh.
