Kolkata, June 17 (IANS) West Bengal Sports Minister Indranil Khan on Wednesday alleged that during the regime of the Trinamool Congress, the Sports Department, led by former Minister Aroop Biswas, functioned as an “extension of a club”.

Khan also said that the current condition of stadiums in West Bengal is “extremely poor”.

In an interaction with IANS, the minister said: “The department had been turned into an extension of a club. The former minister had effectively converted it into an extension office of his personal club. Moreover, no one had any orientation about the Youth Services department for so many years.”

Khan further alleged that outsiders were controlling the West Bengal government and that the government staff in the state were not getting space. “The club’s members and external agencies were running the government. This cannot happen. The government will be run by its staff, and according to the opinion of the people,” he said.

On the current state of sports infrastructure in Bengal, he said: “Sports were too much neglected in West Bengal. It has been neglected to such an extent that the running tracks in many stadiums have deteriorated. In some places, the flooring is damaged, while in others, water is leaking from the roof, which defeats the very purpose of having an indoor stadium.”

“Among the outdoor stadiums, apart from Eden Gardens and Salt Lake stadiums, the rest are in very bad conditions,” he added.

Khan mentioned that he will be undertaking district tours from next week, and a detailed report will be filed from each district regarding the sports infrastructure.

Responding to questions on reported mismanagement at footballer Lionel Messi’s Kolkata event, Minister Khan said: “A Rs 10 bottle of water was sold for Rs 200, and free passes were allegedly sold for Rs 15,000–20,000. The way the then Sports Minister behaved with Lionel Messi was inappropriate.”

“There was forceful hugging and other such actions. Messi then left the stadium, apparently upset by the way he was treated. The then Sports Minister insulted not only a player of Messi’s stature but also footballers and sports lovers across West Bengal. The Mamata Banerjee-led government, whose police failed to maintain law and order, has to answer the people of West Bengal,” he said.

–IANS

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