Newly-crowned IPL champions
Kolkata Knight Riders were today accorded a grand felicitation
by the state government at the packed Eden Gardens, but the
hour-long programme turned sour when chaos followed scuffles
by some frenzied fans with policemen outside the venue leading
to injuries to several people.
After the 67,000-capacity stadium filled to the brim,
the gates had to be closed denying entry to about 30,000 more
who had to remain outside when the programme was on.
Children were seen crying after being separated from
their parents and torn shoes and jerseys littered the ground
as a section of the largely young crowd engaged in scuffles
with the police, making a desperate bid to enter the grounds.
There were also reports of lathicharge, even as the
police denied it. No barricade or fence was erected outside
the ground.
"We did not expect such a huge response. The programme
was organised at the last minute so it was difficult to make
foolproof arrangements," an IPS official posted outside the
Eden told .
The entry was made free for all by the government and
according to unofficial count about one lakh people turned up
to witness the grand celebration.
In the morning, the city turned purple and gold with
thousands of people lining up the entire route from Hazra
crossing, near the chief minister Mamata Banerjee's Harish
Chatterjee Street residence, to Writers' Buildings, a distance
of five kms, to witness the victory parade of the team atop a
flower-bedecked trailer.
Many people were seen taking up vantage points on
rooftops and balconies to witness the victory procession.
The team members, who stepped off the team bus at
Hazra a little past 11:00 am, arrived at Writers' at 12:20
pm where the chief minister, Railway minister Mukul Roy and
cabinet ministers were waiting for them.
People threw bouquets at the players but with the team
co-owner Shah Rukh Khan, who landed at the city late last
night, missing there was some visible disappointment among the
crowd.
"We have been waiting for this day so long. Thank you
Didi. Thank You Kolkata. Thank you West Bengal on behalf of
every member of the team. Only Kolkata will rule," SRK, who is
also the brand ambassador of West Bengal, said at the
reception in front of the Writers' Buildings amidst thunderous
cheers from hundreds.
Captain Gautam Gambhir said, "Thank you Didi. It is a
fantastic support that we have received from the people of
Kolkata and Bengal."
It was a show as much by SRK and his team as Mamata
Banerjee who, dressed in a purple-bordered white sari, the
color of the team's jersey, said, "Bengal is proud. The
victory of the Knight Riders is like a victory of the
world."
Banerjee was seen either giving directions to those
present on the grounds and or shepherding the KKR team members
and Bollywood stars.
The victory procession in two open buses culminated at
the Eden via the Writers' building where chief minister Mamata
Banerjee accorded a grand welcome with a felicitation
ceremony.
After the 13-minute programme, the Chief Minister
boarded the team bus with the team members and headed for the
Eden Gardens, a short distance away.
The Bollywood badshah in his straw hat made his
presence felt at the Eden celebrations dancing and even trying
to coax the chief minister to do the same.
Mamata asked the governor M K Narayanan to lead the
team inside the ground with skipper Gautam Gambhir in front
with the trophy.
The team members went on the dias as the crowd
cheered lustily. Popular Bangla bands Bhoomi and Chandrabindoo
played some of their popular number as all the members
including owners Shah Rukh, Juhi Chawla and Jay Mehta danced.
The programme officially began with National anthem
after which the team members were given gold chains and
mememtos and were before being garlanded with blue-coloured
scarfs amid showers of confetti and loud cheer from thousands
of people.
After the programme was over, the KKR team and others
present made a victory lap of the stadium to the delirious
cheers by the crowd.
Shah Rukh might have failed in his attempt to jump
from the balcony at the Chepauk after their five-wicket win
over two time defending champions Chennai Super Kings, but the
Bollywood star made up for it as he climbed up the giant sight
screen with the trophy, waving at the crowd.
"We have been waiting for this day so long. Thank you
Didi. Thank You Kolkata. Thank you West Bengal on behalf of
every member of the team. Only Kolkata will rule," Shah Rukh
said.
They team members also cut a cake with
inscriptions of team mantra (Korbo, Lorbo, Jeetbo) now aptly
made into past tense: 'Korechi, Lorechi, Jeetechi, signifying
"we have done it."
With a host of Tollywood artists in company, Mamata,
Governor M K Narayanan and the team members clapped to the
tunes of the late Salil Chowdhury-penned popular Bengali song,
'Dhitang Dhitang Bole...' which was a choice by the chief
minister herself.
Big banners of 'We embrace our valiant Knights. KKR
2012 IPL champions," welcomed the Knight Riders outside the
stadium.
The team slogan 'Korbo, Lorbo, Jeetbo' changed its
tense as it now became 'Korechi, Lorechi, Jeetechi', something
even team co-owner Shah Rukh Khan tried to utter after
arriving at the airport late last night.
'Korechi, Lorechi, Jeetechi' (We have done it)
adorned the walls of the stadium with Shah Rukh chartbusters
reverbrating inside the stadium.
The programme at the Eden Gardens began at 10.30am
with singers belting out Shah Rukh chartbusters, from
'Dard-e-Disco' to 'Main Hoon Don' as the crowd danced to the
numbers, waving KKR flags.
The singers also changed the lyrics of the Bollywood
star's numbers a bit as 'Chak De! India' became 'Chak De!
Kolkata' with the crowd enjoying every bit of it.
Despite the hot and humid weather, the crowd waited
patiently for the players to enter the stadium.
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