Trinamool Congress National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Wednesday defended Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the West Bengal government over the chaos at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium during Lionel Messi’s visit. He said the incident was unexpected and involved lapses by both event organisers and the police.
Banerjee highlighted that the Chief Minister apologised publicly within an hour of the incident. He said such accountability sets a rare example in Indian politics. He added that the incident brought embarrassment to the State because of the actions of a few individuals. He stressed that the government has no ego and accepted responsibility where negligence occurred.
Banerjee said overenthusiasm ruined the experience for genuine fans who bought tickets with hard-earned money. He assured that the government will act against everyone responsible for the chaos.
Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari tried to enter the stadium on Wednesday to assess damage but police stopped him. Adhikari alleged financial irregularities and demanded an independent probe under money-laundering laws. He also sought the arrest of ministers present at the event.
A Special Investigation Team visited the stadium and continued its probe. Police have arrested seven people so far. Sports Minister Aroop Biswas resigned earlier, while the government issued show-cause notices to top police and administrative officials and suspended a senior officer.
