West Bengal Sports Minister Aroop Biswas resigned on Tuesday, December 16, after chaos erupted at Lionel Messi’s event in Kolkata.
In his resignation letter to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Biswas cited the ongoing investigation into mismanagement at the Salt Lake Stadium as the reason for stepping down.
The incident unfolded on December 13 during day one of Messi’s GOAT India tour. Fans stormed the stadium after failing to catch a glimpse of the Argentine superstar, who left the venue earlier than scheduled. Consequently, the situation escalated into vandalism, with enraged spectators damaging property inside the stadium.
Reports revealed that Messi was surrounded by politicians and VIPs, which limited access for fans. Moreover, the lack of proper crowd management and security arrangements triggered widespread anger. As a result, the event ended abruptly, sparking criticism of the state’s handling of the high-profile visit.
Biswas, a senior Trinamool Congress leader, acknowledged the lapses in his resignation letter. He expressed his desire to step aside while the investigation continues. Furthermore, his decision came amid mounting pressure on the government to take accountability for the mismanagement.
The resignation added to the fallout from the Messi event, which was intended to showcase Kolkata as a global sports destination. Instead, the chaos highlighted organisational failures and raised questions about event planning in West Bengal.
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