As the Messi event turned into a mayhem, the TMC, the BJP, the Congress and the Left parties took the opportunity to settle their political scores.
The BJP demanded immediate resignation of Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee for “discrediting West Bengal before the world”. While the Congress also attacked the TMC Government describing the episode as “terrible mismanagement and a mockery of law and order”. The CPIM called it a “black day” for West Bengal.
The Congress, Left and BJP demanded a 100 per cent refund for gallery ticket-holders, arrest of those responsible. All lashed out at the organisers of the event featuring Lionel Messi in Salt Lake stadium which ended in chaos as irate spectators went on a vandalisation spree for not having a proper view of the football icon.
The TMC on its part demanded action against the organisers. TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said that the “overzealousness” of the organisers and people close to them to crowd Messi and take selfies with him prevented the spectators from the gallery, who shelled out hefty amounts for the event, from having a proper view of the football star, and it infuriated them.
“Why should no action be taken against the organisers for this mess? Why was there no proper planning? Why did chaos break out? It forced Messi to leave the stadium and the chief minister of West Bengal could not attend and accord him a warm welcome on behalf of the people of the State,” the TMC State general secretary said.
Union minister and senior BJP leader Sukanta Majumdar slammed the TMC and the State administration for the chaos. Leader of the Opposition in the State Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, launched a scathing attack on the State Government, alleging that ministers and leaders “clung to Messi like leeches”, while football fans who paid thousands of rupees were left watching him on the giant screen for barely a few minutes.
BJP State president and Rajya Sabha MP Samik Bhattacharya alleged that “some fraudsters, in their greed to mint money, created this situation”. Stating that the entire responsibility for this mess lies with the State Government, he alleged that TMC leaders indulged “greedy organisers, who were busy with self publicity, depriving people, who bought tickets, to have a proper view of the football icon”. Bhattacharya said that the incident tarnished the image of the State.
West Bengal Congress president Subhankar Sarkar described the episode as “terrible mismanagement and a mockery of law and order”. He alleged that in the name of Messi, tickets were sold at exorbitant prices to innocent fans, while the footballer was surrounded only by TMC leaders and members of their families.
Describing the incident as a big let-down for the sport-lovers of the State, Ghosh said that in 2011, when Messi came to the stadium for the first time, the event was so well-organised.
CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty termed the mismanagement a “black day” for West Bengal, blaming the TMC Government for failure of law and order. Drawing a contrast with the visits of football legend Diego Maradona during the Left Front regime, Chakraborty alleged that the Government was more focused on making money in Messi’s name than ensuring spectators’ safety and experience.
