Political Fallout of Messi Event: Arup Biswas Resigns as WB Sports Minister
West Bengal Sports Minister Arup Biswas Resigns After Chaos at Lionel Messi Event, CM Mamata Accepts Resignation: West Bengal Sports Minister Arup Biswas has expressed his desire to resign from his post following widespread criticism over the chaos and vandalism that marred the high-profile event featuring Argentine football legend Lionel Messi in Kolkata. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has accepted his resignation.
According to Trinamool Congress (TMC) spokesperson Kunal Ghosh, Arup Biswas wrote a letter to the Chief Minister requesting to be relieved of the responsibilities of the Sports Department. Ghosh made the letter public, confirming that the minister had voluntarily offered to step down amid mounting pressure after the incident.
The controversy erupted after a much-hyped program involving Lionel Messi descended into chaos at a Kolkata stadium. Reports suggested that Messi spent barely 10 minutes on the field before leaving, allegedly due to poor arrangements and mismanagement. The incident led to vandalism by angry football fans who were reportedly disappointed after paying hefty ticket prices.
In the wake of the incident, the West Bengal government has initiated action against several senior officials. Show-cause notices have been issued to Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar, Bidhannagar Police Commissioner Mukesh Kumar, and Principal Secretary of the Youth Affairs and Sports Department Rajesh Kumar Sinha. Additionally, departmental proceedings have been initiated against DCP Anish Sarkar (IPS) for alleged negligence of duty on the day of the event.
To probe the matter in detail, the state government has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) comprising IPS officers Piyush Pandey, Javed Shamim, Supratim Sarkar, and Muralidhar. The SIT has been tasked with thoroughly investigating the circumstances that led to the disorder and vandalism.
The incident has further intensified the political sparring between the ruling TMC and opposition parties. The BJP and Congress launched sharp attacks on the Mamata Banerjee-led government, blaming it for the mismanagement and calling the episode an embarrassment for West Bengal and Indian football. The BJP accused the Chief Minister of offering a “crocodile tears” apology.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, however, expressed regret over the incident, stating that she was “deeply saddened and shocked” by the events that unfolded. The TMC has also clarified that the Messi event was organized by a private agency and not directly by the state government, distancing itself from the operational lapses.
With Arup Biswas stepping down and multiple officials facing scrutiny, the incident continues to have significant political and administrative repercussions in the state.
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