Sudipa Chakraborty, BS News Agency, Kolkata: Following the incident at the Yuva Bharati Krirangan stadium, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accepted the resignation letter submitted by Sports Minister Arup Biswas. Accepting the resignation on Tuesday, she stated that the Sports Department would not be handed over to anyone else. She will retain control of the department until the ‘impartial’ investigation is complete. Mamata Banerjee will be the Minister of Sports and Youth Welfare.
Mamata had formed an investigation committee regarding the Yuva Bharati incident. Based on the committee's recommendations, a SIT (Special Investigation Team) has been formed. In his letter to Mamata, Arup wrote that he wanted to relinquish his position as Sports Minister so that the investigation committee formed by Mamata regarding the Yuva Bharati incident could conduct its inquiry ‘impartially’. Mamata accepted the resignation and, in her reply, praised the Sports Minister's ‘emotions and intentions’. She then wrote, ‘He (Arup) is absolutely right. I will oversee this department until the impartial investigation is completed.’
Arup is also the Minister of the state's Power Department in addition to the Sports and Youth Welfare Department. However, he has only sought to relinquish his position from the Sports Department. Even though his resignation from the post of Sports Minister has been accepted, Arup will remain in the cabinet.
On Tuesday, Trinamool's state general secretary Kunal Ghosh released Arup's resignation letter. The letter was dated Monday (December 15). After Arup expressed his desire to resign from the department, high-ranking officials of the Sports and Youth Welfare Department were summoned to Nabanna (the state secretariat). They arrived there on Tuesday afternoon. Following this, sources in the Sports Department confirmed that Arup's resignation letter had been accepted.On 15th December Governor had demanded resignation of the sports Minister and action against all those in Government who have vicarious liability for the untoward incident which happened in the wake of Messey’s visit to Kolkata
What was meant to be a historic tryst of Kolkata with one of the all-time greatest footballers of the world, turned chaotic as VVIPs hogged access to Lionel Messi, including, reportedly, State Ministers Aroop Biswas and Sujit Bose and several other ‘VIPs.
The Lok Bhavan has also received many demands from irate fans who want the Sports Minister to resign. Those in Government who were visibly at the helm of the state of affairs – including the Sports Minister – must own up the responsibility and be candid enough to tender resignation so that the enquiry can proceed smoothly.