A football match between two of Kolkata's fiercest rivals was canceled amid protests over the rape and murder of a doctor at a public hospital, sparking a fresh political controversy and galvanizing polarizing support They formed a rare unity – albeit a short-lived one.
While the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said the much-anticipated contest was called off due to fears of mass protests, a leader of the state's ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) said canceling the contest would send a wrong message Signal. Meanwhile, some fan accounts on Sunday have been talking about solidarity between fans of the two clubs, whose supporters have frequently feuded and were involved in an ugly stadium clash in 1980. Resulting in 16 deaths.
The trophy cabinets of India's two oldest football clubs, East Bengal and Mohun Bagan, are gleaming on Sunday as they resume their rivalry for what could be their first season of the season at the Salt Lake Stadium in Bidhan Nagar, on the outskirts of the city. ’s first confrontation. The clash, known as the Kolkata Derby, is more than 100 years old – and despite India ranking above 100th in the FIFA rankings, the folklore of the derby found its way into Western media.
No wonder expectations are so high. This time, after a 31-year-old trainee doctor was raped and murdered at Kolkata's premier RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, demands for justice drowned out the usually heated debates and heated jibes about supremacy on Facebook fan pages. Some fan pages were flooded with ideas for banners calling for unity and demanding justice for medical graduate students. But there was bad news on Saturday night: officials canceled the derby because police were unable to provide the necessary “security cover”.
“Mamata Banerjee's police have taken the unprecedented step of canceling Kolkata's most anticipated football match – the East Bengal vs Mohun Bagan derby scheduled for August 18. All tickets have been sold out End. The reason given is: Unable to provide security for the game.
Malviya's party has stepped up attacks on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's government and demanded her resignation over the rape-murder case. Orderly situation…”
“…The real reason is: Supporters in East Bengal and Mohun Bagan plan to hold posters and placards demanding justice for RG Kar MCH rape and murder victims and demand Mamata Banerjee's resignation. Due to fear There were massive protests and the game was cancelled,” he said in a lengthy post on X.
Faced with continued attacks by the BJP, the TMC has supported the Kolkata Police's preliminary investigation into the RG Kar incident, denied any cover-up attempt and accused its political opponents of fomenting riots and politicizing the crime that has sparked nationwide turmoil. Protests, including from the influential medical community. CM Banerjee himself accused the BJP and the Left of vandalizing RG Kar Hospital during the midnight solidarity protest.
Sukanta Majumdar, Union minister and Bengal BJP president, accused the state government of “failing on every front”.
“Is the Kolkata Police incompetent in providing security to athletes and football matches?
“@KolkataPolice has canceled the East Bengal vs Mohun Bagan derby citing inability to provide security,” he posted on X.
To be sure, the Bidhan Nagar police said they were unable to provide adequate security for Derby. Bidhangarh police station and Kolkata police station come under the jurisdiction of two different boards.
There are also voices in the TMC camp. Kunal Ghosh, Banerjee's most trusted lieutenant, said he was a supporter of Mohun Bagan and asked the government to take a decision to cancel the derby.
“If anyone wants to fly a 'Justice' banner, let them. Ignore other provocative banners. Canceling the derby would send a wrong message. Bamram [read the Left and the BJP] Will increase criticism. Let the game happen,” he said in an X post in Bengali.
Among fan bases, frustration was palpable and people expressed dissatisfaction with the police actions.
Mohun Bagan and East Bengal fans unite to demand justice in RG Kar medical incident. The government canceled Sunday's derby amid fears of such protests, chants and banners. pic.twitter.com/HwjeB95pGA— Keh Ke Peheno (@coolfunnytshirt) August 18, 2024
“Mohan Bagan and East Bengal fans were natural rivals on the field! But now they are united. United for a cause. Justice for my sister. Seeing them united, even the state government had to cancel Derby Sunday.
Another netizen said: “Congratulations to East Bengal and Mohun Bagan fans! Your unity has shocked the entire government!
The horrific crime shocked the country, put the hospital's operations under scrutiny, led to the ouster of the principal, prompted the courts to intervene and sparked a political war of words. The Calcutta High Court has handed over the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). One person has been arrested in the case.
