New Delhi, Dec 17: West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose on Tuesday said he is yet to receive official communication from the Mamata Banerjee government regarding the resignation of Trinamool Congress leader Aroop Biswas as the state’s sports and youth affairs minister, following alleged mismanagement at the Lionel Messi event in Kolkata.
The Governor said several demands were raised over the alleged lapses at the high-profile event held at Salt Lake Stadium, including calls for the immediate resignation of the sports minister, who was present on the ground on the day of the incident.
“First, through a representative of the Lok Bhavan and then through a letter, an advisory was given to the government that the sports minister and others responsible should candidly admit their vicarious liability and resign. An inquiry is also needed to fix responsibility for the lapses,” Bose said.
He alleged there was “specific, perceptible and systemic failure” in managing the event and expressed surprise that a metropolis like Kolkata lacked standard operating procedures for crowd and congregation management. The Governor also demanded that an insurance scheme be made mandatory for spectators at such events, with the premium to be borne by the organisers.
Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accepted Biswas’s resignation from the sports and youth affairs portfolio, though he continues in the cabinet as power and housing minister.
Asked whether Biswas should step down from all ministerial positions to ensure an impartial inquiry, Bose said, “I am waiting for the files to reach me. Then only I can comment on this.”
Biswas has been at the centre of the controversy following allegations that his proximity to football star Lionel Messi and his entourage on the pitch obstructed spectators’ views, despite high-priced tickets. Angry spectators allegedly resorted to vandalism inside the stadium after Messi exited the field early on December 13, causing damage estimated at around Rs 2 crore.
The state government has constituted a special investigation team (SIT) to probe the incident, following the recommendation of a judicial panel set up earlier.
On another query regarding Fire Minister Sujit Bose, whose name has also surfaced in connection with the incident, the Governor said, “His name has also been suggested by high-ranking members of the public to me. That has been conveyed to the government.”
