Indian cricket legend Sourav Ganguly has been entangled in yet another political mudslinging, albeit for reasons away from cricket. He had earlier drawn flak when agreed to be the brand ambassador of Tripura tourism. This time around, he has been incurring the wrath of Bengal’s Saffron Brigade, while padding up for a new innings-an industrialist out to bring in fresh capital inflows into the cash-starved state. But can we blame him considering that he belongs to a business family and is now trying to reinvent himself as an industrialist. One wonders why he is being targeted separately by the ruling TMC and BJP, when they should be allowing him to make his career choices. In the meanwhile, the doublespeak of the political leaders vis-à-vis Ganguly has been exposed. Just consider the situation. His present critics are the same set of people from the rightist camp, who stood by him and was all praise for the former BCCI boss, when he chose to be Tripura’s brand ambassador, much to the displeasure of a section of the TMC leadership. ‘Saurav is a legend and an icon. He is free to go anywhere and accept any offer and more so because he was not given due recognition and rewards by his home state’, was the orchestrated chorus from the BJP camp.
Of course, the 360 degree volte-face by politicians is not something that draws any attention. It is on expected lines because they are desperate to be in the news and what best than making a comment or two about someone of the calibre of Ganguly.
The promptness with which the state’s leader of the opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, lashed out at Ganguly may be in bad taste, but then it is perfectly understandable. Such a blabber is the trademark reaction of politicians of every hue. Adhikari wants to remain the solitary poster boy for Mo-Shah’s party. The more Saurav’s image gets tarnished, the better is the reasoning.
Meanwhile, the whole episode has thrown up some critical questions: Can’t a successful individual have the freedom to reinvent himself and choose his post-retirement life? Lest one forgets, sweat equity is a universally accepted practice. There are umpteen professionals- sports stars, film stars, celebrities and others, running their business ventures efficiently and successfully. If investing in Mamata’s Bengal is a wrong thing to do, then where do these leaders disappear when the Adanis and Ambanis of the world, known to be close to the present dispensation of power at the Centre, come here, praise the Chief Minister and announce their investment commitments and actually start executing them. The state needs investment, no matter where it is announced and by whom. One wouldn’t be surprised if Union Home Minister Amit Shah drops in at Ganguly’s Behala abode for another dinner date. Don’t be surprised either to find the same set of leaders dying to be part of that guest list, like it happened during Shah’s previous visit. Politicians will be politicians!!
