The BJP on Saturday launched a scathing attack on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee following chaos at Argentine football icon Lionel Messi’s event at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium, demanding her resignation and a full refund of tickets to aggrieved fans.

Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari described the mismanagement at the high-profile event as a “criminal assault on West Bengal’s pride” and a “betrayal of passionate football lovers.”

Holding the state government responsible, Adhikari said the fiasco reflected a complete collapse of governance and accountability.

Adhikari demanded not only the Chief Minister’s resignation but also that of Sports Minister Arup Biswas, Fire Minister Sujit Bose and the event organiser, whom he identified as Shatadru Dutta. However, Dutta was arrested by the police immediately after the incident.

He further insisted that all spectators who had purchased tickets be given a complete refund, terming the incident an unforgivable insult to football fans.

Taking to social media platform X, Adhikari launched a blistering attack on the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), alleging that the event had been turned into a “loot-fest.”

He claimed that thousands of football-crazy fans who paid hefty sums hoping to catch a glimpse of Messi were treated like “second-class citizens” in their own state.

According to him, while VIPs crowded around the football star, ordinary spectators were left stranded in the galleries, able to watch only a few minutes of Messi’s appearance on giant screens.

The BJP leader also alleged profiteering and extortion at the venue, claiming that fans were not allowed to carry water bottles inside and were forced to buy water at exorbitant prices.

He accused TMC leaders of converting the sporting event into a personal photo opportunity and profit-making exercise.

Adhikari has written to Governor Dr C V Ananda Bose, seeking an independent probe led by a sitting judge of the Calcutta High Court.

In his letter, he alleged that ordinary football lovers were denied basic dignity despite paying exorbitant ticket prices.

He cited unchecked VIP presence, obstruction of sightlines, monopolisation of space by ministers and their entourages, and alleged profiteering as instances of “institutionalised harassment under colour of authority.”

Union Minister and BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar also targeted the TMC government, alleging corruption and black marketing of tickets. Majumdar claimed that thousands of sports enthusiasts who gathered at Yuva Bharati Krirangan after paying hefty sums were left disappointed due to what he called “unruly and barbaric conduct” by Trinamool workers and gross administrative failure.

He alleged that certain TMC leaders hijacked the programme and openly operated a black market for high-priced tickets.

Majumdar said the disgraceful behaviour of ruling party cadres, coupled with poor planning and incompetence on the part of the police and administration, amounted to a total failure of governance for which the chief minister must bear responsibility.

Responding to the allegations, the Trinamool Congress blamed the private organisers for the mismanagement. In a post on X, the ruling party said the incident at Salt Lake Stadium was the result of serious lapses by the organisers entrusted with the event.

It maintained that while the state government had provided the necessary permissions, responsibility for on-ground arrangements, ticketing and crowd management rested entirely with the organisers.

TMC spokesperson Debanshu Bhattacharya echoed the party’s stand, saying neither the state government nor the Trinamool Congress had any role in organising the event.

Expressing regret over what transpired, he said: “The entire responsibility lay with the private organisers. The state government or the Trinamool Congress were not involved in the whole process. I would also like to request the police to find out the people who raised slogans were raised inside the stadium.”

Messi’s brief appearance at the stadium triggered anger among fans, leading to vandalism, with bottles and chairs thrown from the stands and barricades broken as spectators attempted to storm the ground.

Fans alleged that the event had been reduced to a VIP spectacle, with the football star surrounded by actors and political leaders, leaving paying spectators disappointed despite ticket prices ranging from Rs 4,000 to Rs 25,000.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee later apologised to fans and announced a high-level probe into the incident. Police said the event organiser has been arrested and said that ticket refunds would be issued to spectators.