‘West Bengal Was Shamed Courtesy TMC’: PM Modi Targets Mamata Banerjee Govt Over Messi Event

Last Updated:December 20, 2025, 19:00 IST

The controversy surrounding Lionel Messi’s visit to Kolkata escalated after high-profile event at Salt Lake Stadium ended in chaos, triggering public anger and political fallout.

PM Narendra Modi (File Photo: ANI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday took a swipe at the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government over the chaos at the event at Salt Lake Stadium involving Argentine soccer star Lionel Messi.

In a post on social media, the Prime Minister expressed concern over the situation in the state and blamed the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) for the incident.

“The people of West Bengal have endured a lot in recent years. The condition of West Bengal’s Nari Shakti is deeply distressing. A football-loving state like West Bengal was shamed courtesy the TMC. The recent incident has broken the hearts of so many football-loving youth," he wrote.

The controversy surrounding Lionel Messi’s visit to Kolkata escalated after the high-profile event at Salt Lake Stadium ended in chaos, triggering public anger and political fallout.

Messi’s Kolkata appearance marked the first stop of the GOAT India Tour 2025. However, the event quickly spiralled out of control, with fans alleging that the pitch was crowded by VIPs and political figures, blocking the view of spectators who had come to see the football star. Many attendees accused the organisers of poor planning and lack of crowd management.

As tempers flared, parts of the stadium were damaged by angry fans, who blamed the organisers for mismanagement. The incident drew widespread criticism and raised questions about security and event planning for large public gatherings.

Following the uproar, West Bengal Sports Minister Aroop Biswas resigned from his post. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accepted his resignation. The state government also ordered a detailed investigation into the incident.

An SIT has been formed to probe the matter, comprising IPS officers Piyush Pandey, Javed Shamim, Supratim Sarkar and Muralidhar. The team has been tasked with examining lapses in planning, crowd control and overall management of the event.

News india ‘West Bengal Was Shamed Courtesy TMC’: PM Modi Targets Mamata Banerjee Govt Over Messi Event

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