In a significant political development, West Bengal cabinet minister Aroop Biswas resigned from his position as the state's sports minister on Tuesday. This decision came in the wake of the widely criticized and chaotic event featuring football legend Lionel Messi at Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium last week.
Stepping Back Amidst Controversy
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accepted Aroop Biswas's offer to step down from the sports portfolio. The resignation is intended to remain in effect until a "fair and impartial inquiry" into the mismanagement of the Messi event is completed. During this period, Chief Minister Banerjee herself will oversee the sports ministry.
Despite the high-profile resignation, Biswas, who retains his other cabinet portfolios of Power and Housing, maintained a low profile on Wednesday. Known for his public presence, he deliberately avoided media interactions. A close family member explained that while the minister is attending to his administrative and party duties, he is currently refraining from speaking to the press to allow the inquiry to proceed without influence.
Controversy and a Defiant Video
The minister has faced intense public criticism for being the public face of the botched Messi extravaganza. Images and videos of him hugging the football icon and his family members taking photographs with Messi circulated widely, contrasting sharply with the experience of thousands of fans who faced entry issues and chaos.
Adding another layer to the controversy, a video clip surfaced between Saturday and Tuesday. In this video, Biswas is heard making a defiant statement: "No one can force me to step down." Neither the minister nor his family members have commented on the authenticity or context of this recording.
Family Stands United, Threatens Legal Action
A relative of the four-time Tollygunge MLA stated that the family is staying united during this crisis. They revealed that they are particularly disturbed by online trolls targeting minor girls in the family who were photographed with Lionel Messi.
"We have identified eight such social media accounts," the relative said, emphasizing that while they do not wish to debate the appropriateness of the photographs, the harassment of minors is legally punishable. The family plans to initiate legal action against these accounts once the official probe into the event concludes.
Despite the setback, Biswas's work schedule remained largely uninterrupted in the days surrounding the event. He attended a military tattoo for Vijay Diwas celebrations a day after the Messi match. The following day, he was present at a special meeting at Nabanna to discuss preparations for Gangasagar. His resignation was submitted a day after that.
