Soccer gives way to CM event at Siliguri's Kanchenjungha Stadium, BJP MLA protests

Because of the government event, matches of the ongoing super division football league, which started on November 26, were called off on December 4, irking several sports lovers and prompting the BJP to protest

Preparations on for the chief minister’s upcoming government event at the Kanchenjungha Stadium in Siliguri on Monday.: Passang Yolmo

TT Correspondent, Siliguri, 06.12.23 : The state government's decision to host a public service distribution event led by chief minister Mamata Banerjee at Siliguri's Kanchenjungha Stadium, the largest sports arena in north Bengal, has ruffled several feathers.

Because of the government event, matches of the ongoing super division football league, which started on November 26, were called off on December 4, irking several sports lovers and prompting the BJP to protest.

The government event is scheduled for December 12.

“The Kanchenjungha Stadium here is almost defunct and the infrastructure is in a shambles.... At a time when infrastructure needs to be repaired or built afresh, the state government is all set to damage the ground at the stadium further by organising the chief minister’s event. It is utterly disappointing,” said Siliguri's BJP MLA Shankar Ghosh.

“There are other grounds and open spaces where this government event could be held. We oppose the decision to hold it at Kanchenjungha Stadium. We will hold a demonstration during the programme,” the MLA added.

Kuntal Goswami, the general secretary of Siliguri Mahakuma Krira Parishad (SMKP, the subdivisional sports body), admitted they had to postpone matches of the soccer league.

A former footballer of the city said even a goalpost was uprooted to create space for the government event.

“We doubt if the grounds would be fit for a football match after the event,” said a sports enthusiast.

Mayor Gautam Deb, a Trinamul veteran, however, sounded confident that after Mamata’s programme, they would be able to clean the ground and make it suitable for football matches within 24 hours. The Siliguri Municipal Corporation looks after the management and maintenance of the stadium.

“The BJP can take up any political activity. But if they try to create any problem, we know how to handle it. Let us be clear that a sum of Rs 10 crore will be spent to refurbish the stadium. BJP legislators here have not done anything for Siliguri's sports infrastructure,” Deb said.

On Tuesday, Deb met representatives of local clubs and SMKP to propose that football matches, once they resumed after the December 12 event, could be played in the evenings under floodlights as well so that this present delay could be offset. "We will bear the cost,” he said.

Cricket stadium plea

Representatives of the SMKP and Siliguri Cricket Lovers Welfare Organisation will appeal to chief minister Mamata Banerjee during her visit for a cricket stadium in or near Siliguri.

“We will appeal to the chief minister to allot a plot so that a full-fledged cricket ground can be developed in Siliguri,” said Manoj Verma, the cricket secretary of SMKP.

“Siliguri has bred cricketers like Wriddhiman Saha, Richa Ghosh, Kamal Hasan Mondal and others. A cricket stadium will help nurture budding talents,” he said.