The political landscape in West Bengal was dominated by a debate over 'raj dharma' on Tuesday following the resignation of state sports minister Aroop Biswas. The resignation came in the wake of the controversy surrounding football icon Lionel Messi's recent visit to Kolkata. The ruling Trinamool Congress hailed Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's action as a fulfillment of righteous duty, while the opposition BJP dismissed it as a political stunt ahead of elections.
The Resignation and Immediate Political Reactions
Sports Minister Aroop Biswas submitted his resignation amid growing criticism over the management and ticketing of the event featuring global football superstar Lionel Messi. The move triggered an immediate war of words between the state's major political parties.
Trinamool Congress spokesperson Kunal Ghosh strongly defended the Chief Minister's decision to accept the resignation. He framed it as a decisive act of governance, contrasting it with historical inaction during previous sports-related tragedies under Left Front regimes. "CM Banerjee has not only acted decisively but has performed raj dharma," Ghosh stated, referencing the tragic 1980 Eden Gardens stampede and the abandoned 1996 World Cup match.
BJP's Counterattack and Allegations of Scam
Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly, Suvendu Adhikari of the BJP, launched a sharp counterattack. He labeled the resignation a "hogwash" and a diversionary tactic. "This has only been done with the ensuing elections in mind. This is vote dharma at best," Adhikari told reporters.
He escalated the allegations, claiming to have confirmed information that Biswas had procured a large cache of tickets. "Biswas collected 22,000 tickets for the event, which he not only distributed among his followers but also sold in the grey market at premium prices," Adhikari alleged, demanding a probe by central agencies into what he called a concrete money trail.
Probe, PILs, and the Ongoing War of Words
Kunal Ghosh refrained from commenting on the specifics of any potential probe, stating, "The issue is under investigation, and nothing should be said." He took a swipe at Adhikari's frequent visits to the Calcutta High Court, quipping, "The HC falls in the opposition neta's daily route. He drops in daily."
Ghosh further questioned the BJP's selective outrage, pointing to other stampede incidents in Bengaluru and during the Kumbh Mela. "We do not need to hear BJP's lectures on accountability... But govt acted immediately," he asserted, defending the state administration's response.
The controversy is set to continue as the Calcutta High Court is likely to hear Public Interest Litigations (PILs) later this week seeking an investigation into the event's organization by central agencies.
