'So many died at Kumbh, …': Abhishek Banerjee slams BJP, hails Mamata for quick action after Messi chaos

Banerjee said action was being taken across the board, from police officers to stadium management and the political executive, following allegations of mismanagement at the high-profile event.

Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Abhishek Banerjee on Tuesday evening defended the West Bengal government’s handling of the chaos during football icon Lionel Messi’s appearance at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium. He took a swipe at the BJP, comparing the state’s response with stampede incidents in BJP-ruled states, and noted that the Bengal administration acted swiftly and took responsibility.

Speaking to reporters in the Parliament complex, Banerjee pointed out that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had apologised on Sunday within an hour of the incident and set in motion action against those responsible.

“So many people were killed at the Kumbh Mela during this government’s rule and in the New Delhi railway station stampede. Did anyone apologise there? In Bengal, within one hour of the incident, the Chief Minister apologised. Action is being taken against everyone,” he said.

#WATCH | Delhi: On the chaos at Football star Lionel Messi's event at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata, AITC MP Abhishek Banerjee says, "So many people were killed at the Kumbh Mela during this government's rule and the New Delhi railway station stampede... Within an hour of the… pic.twitter.com/Yb23KMLGVp

— ANI (@ANI) December 16, 2025

Using a Hindi idiom to underline accountability, Banerjee added, “Jhukta wahi hai jisme jaan hai. Akad to murdon ki pehchaan hai (Only those who have life in them bow; rigidity is the mark of the dead). We have bowed before the people. That is why the BJP loses, and the Trinamool defeats them.”

Banerjee said action was being taken across the board, from police officers to stadium management and the political executive, following allegations of mismanagement at the high-profile event.

Backing Banerjee’s remarks, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi said he was highlighting what she described as the BJP’s “non-accountability and hypocrisy.”

Speaking to ANI, Chaturvedi said, “He only pointed out that the TMC government took responsibility, the sports minister resigned and the Chief Minister apologised. He was asking whether anyone took responsibility for the Kumbh stampede.”

Messi’s Kolkata appearance on December 13, the first stop of his GOAT India Tour 2025, spiralled into chaos amid complaints of poor crowd management and visibility. Fans alleged that VIPs and politicians crowded the pitch and monopolised the footballer’s time, leaving many ticket-holders unable to catch even a glimpse of the World Cup winner. The unrest later spilled over into vandalism inside the stadium, with officials estimating damage worth around Rs 2 crore.

Following this, West Bengal Sports Minister Aroop Biswas, on Tuesday afternoon, stepped down from his position, taking moral responsibility for the lapses. CM Banerjee accepted his resignation and announced she would temporarily hold charge of the sports department until the inquiry is completed.

Meanwhile, the state government has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) comprising senior IPS officers to probe the incident. It has also issued a notice to Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar, seeking an explanation within 24 hours on alleged lapses in planning, crowd control and coordination with private organisers. Additionally, a senior police officer has been suspended as part of the action taken.