Didi upset with Sourav for not informing Eden tie cancellation
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has expressed her anguish against BCCI president Sourav Ganguly for not informing her goverment about the cancellation of the India-South Africa match at Eden Gardens on March 18 due to Covid-19 pandemic.
Her complaint at a meeting with the various sports bodies at the state secretariat: Nabanna on Friday about advisories on Covid-19 came on a day state Assembly speaker Biman Banerjee announced of restricting the visitors' entry and the journalists' movements during the session and on the eve of the Rajya Sabha Election on March 26.
On the cancellation of the India-South Africa match at the Eden Gardens, Ms Banerjee said, “Sourav's decision was fine but he should have had a word, nothing else. When the match was scheduled in Kolkata, at least the Kolkata Police should have been informed. I am saying this with due respect.”
She wondered, “Why would not the state chief secretary or the state home secretary or the police commissioner or even someone else in the government be informed about it? What will happen if you inform us after taking a decision? We are not asking you to stop the match. But what would you have done had you been in this situation?”
She noted, “If I do not do it, it would be claimed that I did not do it.” She also advised to the football clubs of the I-League tournament’s postponement. Top officials of two popular clubs, Mohun Bagan and East Bengal, however got into a verbal duel among themselves over her advice, prompting her to intervene.
Earlier the state Assembly Speaker said, “The House is in session. Lot of people attend the session. We will impose some restrictions to avoid the spread of the disease. Many MLAs enter with many people. Each of them can bring only one person with them now. For that, restrictions would also be imposed on those who issue slips.”