Messi event chaos: Saffron flags waved during mayhem at Kolkata stadium? TMC claims ‘some forces’ are…, BJP blames…

Messi event chaos: A political fist fight erupted between the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the BJP on Saturday after visuals emerged on social media showing a few spectators carrying saffron flags and raising ‘Jai Shree Ram’ slogans at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium during a Lionel Messi event, where chaos erupted as fans stormed the pitch and vandalised the stadium.

Were saffron flags waved at Messi event?

Videos of the chaos at the Messi event shared on social media sites showed spectators running onto the pitch, some carrying saffron flags and shouting ‘Jai Shree Ram’ slogans, while throwing bottles and chairs, damaging seats and banners, and breaking barricades. However, India(BHARAT).com could not independently verify the authenticity of these videos.

Reacting to saffron flags being waved at the marquee event, TMC spokesperson Arup Chakraborty alleged that “footage hinted some forces might be involved in the violence though our chief minister Mamata Banerjee and other party leaders already slammed the organisers of the event and ordered a high-level probe.”

“The main organiser has already been arrested but we demand that the probe also covers the possibility of involvement of forces who want to give Kolkata and the state administration a bad name. Let the whole truth come out,” he added.

BJP blames TMC’s ‘mismanagement’

Opposition BJP fired back, refuting the charges, while lashing out at the ruling party for the “administrative mismanagement” that led to chaos, and also attacked the organisers and the TMC or excluding ticket-holding fans from viewing the football star.

“Due to the overenthusiasm of several TMC ministers, their relatives and friends, and the publicity-driven event management firm crowding around Messi, thousands of fans who paid hefty sums felt cheated. Instead of introspection, the TMC is deflecting responsibility. The administration under their rule has shown it cannot handle such an event. The BJP is not involved in today’s incident. This is the natural outpouring of public anger,” said BJP spokesperson Sajal Ghosh.

West Bengal Sports Minister Aroop Biswas, who was seen with Lionel Messi during the event, declined to comment, saying, “I won’t say anything till the inquiry is completed.”

Mamata orders probe

Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee issued an apology to football fans and announced the formation of an high-level inquiry committee to pinpoint the shortcomings and mismanagement that resulted in chaos at Kolkata’s Salt Lake stadium where football star Lionel Messi was scheduled for a marquee event.

“I am deeply disturbed and shocked by the mismanagement witnessed today at Salt Lake Stadium,” Banerjee wrote on X, adding that thousands of fans had assembled at the venue hoping to catch a glimpse of the World Cup-winning star.