Kolkata, 13 December (H.S.): BJP central leader Amit Malviya launched a scathing attack on the TMC government on Saturday over the chaos at the Salt Lake Stadium. Calling it a shameful incident that will be forever etched in the pages of history, he demanded the immediate resignation of State Sports Minister Arup Biswas.

Amit Malviya raised the issue through three posts on the social media platform X. In his first post, he wrote that this massive embarrassment in the heart of Kolkata will be forever etched in the pages of history. For purely political reasons, an internationally renowned player like Lionel Messi was brought to Kolkata, and before that, a bizarre 70-foot statue of him was erected. Then, people were misled into buying tickets priced between ₹8,000 and ₹10,000 and brought to the venue. Due to extremely poor management, Messi was not even allowed to stay at the event and was taken away.

The BJP leader said that as a result, nothing but a major scam unfolded. Angry people stormed onto the stadium grounds, vandalized chairs, and tore down posters. By God's grace, no major tragedy occurred. He said that the State Sports Minister Arup Biswas should immediately resign for bringing an international player like Messi to West Bengal, playing with the emotions of the common people, and putting them at such serious risk.

In his second post, Amit Malviya targeted Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, saying, Stop shedding crocodile tears. This mismanagement and corruption are endemic to everything your government does. The TMC has launched a frontal attack on the emotions of the people of West Bengal and insulted every football lover. He said that she should immediately ensure accountability and secure the resignations of those responsible. FIRs should be registered against Arup Biswas and Sujit Bose. They should be removed from their positions without delay, and a full refund should be ensured for the spectators who were forced to pay exorbitant amounts for this event.

In his third and final post, Amit Malviya said that it is a matter of great shame. The Chief Minister of West Bengal has apologized to Lionel Messi, and rightly so. But she has not yet apologized to the people of Bengal, who have been betrayed by her own ministers and MLAs. Football fans and Messi's enthusiasts deserve better. They deserve accountability and a full refund of the money they paid. Those who were forced to buy tickets at black market prices from TMC middlemen should also receive a full refund. He said that an apology to a global icon cannot substitute for justice for the people of Bengal.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey