In a recent statement on Thursday, West Bengal’s Sports Minister Aroop Biswas expressed deep concerns about the alleged challenges faced by Bengali athletes, highlighting systemic issues in selection processes and regional biases. He remarked, “If you say Bengali, they arrest you; if you say Bengali, they expel you from your home; if you say Bengali, they send you to another country. That’s why you understand why Bengali boys are not getting elected today.”
Biswas underscored the deprivation faced by Bengal both financially and in terms of sports opportunities. “I have always made it clear that Bengal is being deprived. We are not being paid the money we deserve. We have been saying it time and again that Bengal players are being deprived; they are not being taken even though they are eligible. We have been shouting this forever,” he lamented.
Highlighting the dominance of the Kolkata League in nurturing local talent, the minister pointed out the challenges in national team selections, which are governed by autonomous bodies like BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India), CAB (Cricket Association of Bengal), AIFF (All India Football Federation), and IFA (Indian Football Association). “Our sports field here, be it BCCI, our CAB, AIFF, IFA, it is autonomous. We have to agree with what they do. There is no government or anyone in the selection,” he explained.
Expressing frustration, Biswas questioned the autonomy of these organizations, stating, “If the AIFF deliberately excludes Bengali footballers, then what can you or I do? We can protest, we can shout. Apart from that, I have nothing to do.” His remarks bring attention to the larger debate regarding regional representation, transparency, and fairness in Indian sports administration.
The minister’s candid comments highlight the ongoing struggles for recognition faced by Bengali athletes, calling for greater accountability and equitable opportunities in national sports selections.
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