Kolkata, 14 December (H.S.):

The controversy surrounding the Messi event at the Yuva Bharati Krirangan continues to escalate. BJP leader Amit Malviya on Sunday took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to directly target Mamata Banerjee's family. He alleged that the event, which was meant for the common fans of football-loving Kolkata, was turned into a private spectacle for a select few from the Banerjee-Biswas family.

In his post, Amit Malviya wrote, Yesterday’s programme at Yuva Bharati Krirangan (Salt Lake Stadium) was meant to celebrate football in a city that lives and breathes the sport, and to give Lionel Messi’s fans a moment to cherish. Instead, the event was reduced to a private spectacle reserved for a select few from the Banerjee–Biswas circle.

Malviya also listed the names of those who allegedly received special access to the event. These included Akash Banerjee (Mamata Banerjee's nephew and Abhishek Banerjee's cousin), Akash Banerjee's wife, Aditi Gayen (Abhishek Banerjee's social media handler), and the daughters of Minister Arup Biswas and Swarup Biswas (Arup Biswas's brother).

The BJP leader further wrote, While ordinary fans waited with hope, their emotions were played with and their passion for football was taken for granted. What unfolded on the ground was painful to watch and deeply damaging to the image of a city known worldwide for its love of the beautiful game.

Malviya also alleged that an organizer is now conveniently being made a scapegoat. He wrote, Now, an organiser is being conveniently turned into a scapegoat. But the people of Kolkata know better and they have already identified the real culprits behind this disgrace.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey