World Cup mania: 9,000 football-crazy Kolkatans visit Qatar, more to travel ahead of final match
Kolkata, Dec 11: The euphoria surrounding this year's FIFA World Cup has been "unprecedented" in football-mad Kolkata, with nearly 9,000 fans having already travelled to Qatar to witness the showpiece event and many more slated to arrive in the next few days, officials said.
People are still making queries regarding ticket and accommodation availability and travel packages for Qatar, days ahead of the semi-finals and the final next week, they said.
"Around 10,000-12,000 football fans have travelled to Qatar from eastern India so far, including close to 9,000 people from Kolkata. People are still very keen to make it to the semis and the final, and we expect at least another 1,500 Kolkatans to visit the Arab country," Anil Punjabi, eastern region head of Travel Agents' Federation of India (TAFI), told PTI.
Though the craze for the business end of the world cup has died down to an extent following the exit of giants such as Brazil and Portugal, Argentina's advance to the semi-finals is reason enough for many of Kolkata's football enthusiasts to pack their bags for Qatar.
"It's all about Messi this time as it will be his last world cup. I had made up my mind months ago that if Argentina progresses to the semis, I will head to Qatar. Who knows, I might actually see Messi lifting the coveted trophy, which would be an unreal experience," Subham Mitra, a resident of Lake Gardens, said.
Mitra said he will depart for Doha (Qatar capital) in the early hours of Monday. The average return fare to Doha costs around Rs 55,000-60,000 at present.
Argentina will take on Croatia in the first semi-final on Wednesday.
"Kolkata's football frenzy for this edition of the world cup has been unprecedented because of two main factors -- direct flights to Qatar, and the urge to travel more post the COVID-19 pandemic, especially during major global events," Punjabi said.
The senior TAFI official also said Qatar will turn into a popular travel destination for people of east India, courtesy of the world cup.
"Qatar wasn't among the sought-after tourist spots before the mega event, but the sporting spectacle has added great value to the place and we expect that more and more people will add it to their must-visit list," Punjabi added.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Will win 226 seats; exit polls predictions made at BJP's behest to demoralise TMC workers: Mamata
Kolkata (PTI): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday dismissed exit poll projections, saying they were aired at the “instruction of the BJP” to demoralise her party and asserted that the Trinamool Congress (TMC) would win more than 226 seats in the assembly polls.
She also targeted Union Home Minister Amit Shah, alleging central forces acted as “agents of the BJP”, and took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his remarks made on Wednesday that "the poll results will strengthen the resolve of a developed India", wondering how he can make such a comment when voting was on.
In a video message shared on social media ahead of counting on May 4, Banerjee claimed television channels ran projections circulated from the BJP office, alleging a coordinated attempt to shape public perception.
“I want to reassure you that what is being shown on TV, that circular was issued from the BJP office at 1.08 pm yesterday. Money was paid to show those figures. The media was forced to air it,” she said.
Her remarks came a day after most exit polls predicted a majority for the Bharatiya Janata Party in the 294-member Assembly, where the halfway mark is 148, with several projections giving it over 150 seats, a narrative the TMC chief sought to counter forcefully.
Exuding confidence about her party’s prospects, Banerjee said the TMC would comfortably cross the two-thirds mark.
“We will cross 226. We may even get 230. I have full faith in the way people have voted,” she said.
Thanking voters for their participation, she struck an emotional note, saying, “Even in such scorching heat, and despite so much oppression, the way you stood in queues to vote -- we are grateful. I am also grateful to my workers. They fought with everything they had. They endured a lot of oppression. Those who tried to subdue Bengal have themselves been subdued in the ballot box.”
Alleging widespread intimidation during polling, Banerjee said Trinamool workers faced “joint oppression” by central forces and sections of the police.
“The BJP intimidates everyone through ED, CBI. The conduct of the central forces yesterday, and some of the newly appointed police personnel who were not under my control - they beat women, they beat children,” she claimed.
The chief minister also trained her guns on Union Home Minister Amit Shah, alleging that central forces acted as “agents of the BJP” during the entire polling process.
“At direct instructions of Amit Shah, central forces have been working in West Bengal as agents of the BJP in the entire polling process,” she claimed.
He also took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his remarks on the last day of polling from Uttar Pradesh, where he had said voters are casting their vote in West Bengal this time in a "fearless atmosphere", which was unimaginable in the past six or seven decades."
He also asserted that the assembly poll results on May 4 will further strengthen the resolve of a developed India.
“How can he say Bengal is his during elections? Does he know Bengal? Does he know its soil? He knows no one here,” she said.
Referring to the reported death of a voter in Udaynarayanpur in a polling booth, she said, “I have no words to console the bereaved family of the gentleman who died while going to vote. We will stand by that family.”
The CM alleged that her party workers were “one-sidedly attacked” but did not retreat, and that many were deliberately arrested to prevent them from acting as polling agents. She cited incidents from areas such as Bhatpara, Noapara, Jagaddal and her own constituency, Bhabanipur.
“Our workers were beaten so that they could not function as agents. Even in Bhabanipur, raids were conducted throughout the night. I have not slept for two days,” she said.
Calling the exit poll predictions a “BJP conspiracy”, Banerjee further alleged that they were aired to influence economic sentiment and demoralise her cadre.
“I have information that this was done to comfort the share market. If the truth comes out, the market will crash. So the BJP used the media for this last game, to demoralise our workers,” she said, recalling discrepancies between exit poll projections and actual results in 2016 and 2021.
In a strong organisational directive, Banerjee asked party leaders, candidates and workers to remain on high alert during counting and guard strong rooms housing Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
“You must guard the counting centres. If needed, I will also go and guard my area. Candidates must guard themselves. Stay awake. If I can do it, so can you. There is a plan to change the machines while transporting EVMs. Do not take this lightly,” she said.
“Until I formally say so in a press conference, no one should leave the counting table,” Banerjee added.
The TMC supremo cautioned workers against leaving counting tables unattended even briefly.
“During counting, sit firmly at the centres. Even if someone needs to go to the toilet or eat, it should not be for more than two minutes. Leave someone trustworthy in your place, someone who cannot be bought with money,” she said.
Despite the sharp allegations, Banerjee appealed for restraint.
“Even if they attack you, do not retaliate immediately. There has been a lot of violence. Our workers were beaten and bloodied in Bhangar. They will be answered — but no one should take the law into their own hands. We will take action,” the CM said.
Banerjee said she was “100 per cent confident” of a win and urged all TMC candidates to remain vigilant till the final results are declared.
Meanwhile, BJP state president Samik Bhattacharya dismissed her allegations as a sign of nervousness.
“She is very well aware that she is losing the polls and that is why she is making such a statement to keep her party workers charged up,” he said, terming her remarks a “panic reaction” to an “imminent defeat”.
The sharp exchange underscores the high-stakes nature of the Bengal verdict, with both narrative and numbers under intense contest ahead of counting day.
