As violence erupted at Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata on Saturday (December 13, 2025) at footballer Lionel Messi’s event, both opposition leaders and the Governor raised questions about the organisers and the government’s role in handling the situation. They blamed the ruling party and its State machinery like the local police for failing to manage the crowd.
“While the organisers of the event are to be blamed squarely for the situation that unfolded, it is also the police that has failed the Government, the people and the Chief Minister who is also the Home Minister,” the Lok Bhavan Social Media page of Governor C.V. Ananda Bose posted on X after the event. He also stated that this incident will be considered a “black day” in the sports loving community of Kolkata.
Messi in Kolkata: Upset fans vandalise Salt Lake stadium; organiser detained; CM orders enquiry
Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) leaders like Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, MP Sukanta Majumdar, and senior spokesperson Amit Malviya all came down heavily on the ruling government, the police, and the Trinamool Congress ministers for the chaos at the event.
LoP Mr Adhikari posted pictures of TMC ministers with Messi and questioned why they were allowed so close to the football legend when fans paid thousands of rupees to see their icon. He alleged that the programme turned into “Sports Minister Aroop Biswas and Sujit Basu’s business”, claiming spectators were “fleeced for thousands of rupees in tickets” while ministers and leaders crowded around Messi. He also shared the ministers picture with Messi on his social media account.
