No politics please but protests will go on: Maidan Big Three
Times of India | 21 August 2024
Kolkata: The city’s three big clubs have pledged support to the justice-seeking protest following the murder of a junior doctor at a city hospital, saying it should be devoid of “any political colour” and not get in the way of organizing football matches.
Officials of East Bengal, Mohun Bagan and Mohammedan Sporting said on Tuesday that next week’s semifinals and the final of the ongoing Durand Cup must go on as per schedule at the Salt Lake Stadium and not be shifted elsewhere.
“We are requesting the administration that the Durand Cup semifinals and the final be held in Kolkata only... As responsible sports administrators, we want to request all investigative agencies, including CBI, to ensure that our sister ‘Tilottama’ gets justice expeditiously and the perpetrators are handed out the harshest punishment. We also express our deepest condolences to the family. We support this fight and will continue to do so but sans any political colour,” a statement, jointly issued by the three clubs, said.
The Big 3’s move came two days after the Durand Cup group-stage derby between East Bengal FC and Mohun Bagan SG was called off following the police’s refusal to provide security to the high-voltage match. The decision triggered a massive protest with thousands of supporters from the three clubs laying siege to the EM Bypass in front of the Salt Lake Stadium for hours on Sunday.
Mohun Bagan SG captain Subhashis Bose and All India Football Federation president Kalyan Chaubey, who is also a BJP leader, took part in the protest.
Both Mohun Bagan and East Bengal’s Durand Cup quarterfinal matches — which were supposed to be held at the Salt Lake Stadium — have been shifted to Jamshedpur and Shillong, respectively. The continuous protest across the city has also plunged into uncertainty the two semifinals (on Aug 25 & 27) and the Aug 31 final. Should Mohun Bagan and East Bengal win their respective semifinals, the title-decider could again be another derby.
Admitting that supporters’ anger at the abandonment of the derby coincided with seeking justice for a heinous crime, club officials sought to join the bandwagon while stressing that the game should not be a victim of circumstances.
Mohammedan Sporting’s secretary Ishtiaque Ahmed (Raju) and his East Bengal counterpart Rupak Saha were also present on the occasion.
Mohammedan Sporting players on Monday and East Bengal players on Tuesday held up a jersey with “Justice for RG Kar” written on it, during their respective Calcutta Football League matches.