Mohun Bagan AGM overshadowed by protests, controversial third package to be withdrawn
Slogans of ‘Remove ATK’ reached the Mohun Bagan Athletic Club tent as loyal supporters as soon as once more vented their anger through the membership’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Saturday.
Alleging that the historical past and legacy of their beloved century-old membership is being repeatedly tarnished, a bunch of 50-100 followers gathered in entrance of the membership’s premises, beating drums and shouting slogans on microphones. Elsewhere, one other group demonstrated in entrance of the CESC House in Dharmatala, demanding that the prefix ‘ATK’ be eliminated and the ‘contentious’ third package is completed away with.
Towards the night a protest march with round 200 folks was additionally taken out from the Eden Gardens space in direction of the Mohun Bagan membership tent.
As the gang swelled, the police was known as in to disperse the massive gathering since there have been fears that the membership’s annual normal assembly is likely to be disrupted.
During the meet, three members raised the problem which was famous by the committee. After the AGM, ATK Mohun Bagan Director, Debashis Dutta spoke to The Indian Express and shared his views on the sustained marketing campaign by the supporters. Comparing the MB-KGSPL take care of the erstwhile McDowell’s, Dutta mentioned, “Three-four of our members have told that we don’t want ATK before Mohun Bagan and we have clarified it to them that ATK is a brand just like earlier it was McDowell Mohun Bagan and they accepted it.”
On the problem jersey, he mentioned, “That we have accepted. This will not be there going forward and there will be another type of jersey. As far as commentators using the word ATK, that is out of our hand but we have told Star Sports.”
“However, some former players intentionally use the word ATK on Star Sports (Bengali) to create this nuisance but now it has been stopped.”
Mohun Bagan legend and former captain Subrata Bhattacharya, who attended the assembly, was requested by the media on his views on the rising voices of discontent to which the 67-year-old mentioned, “I will have to look into the matter but if commentators are using the word ATK then that is their fault. The heritage of the club deserves respect.”
Fans level
Ever since ATK Mohun Bagan FC sported their third package in black, similarities between their jersey and erstwhile ATK’s away package in 2019 has been rife. Fans have alleged that resorting again to ‘a defunct club jersey’ is one other signal of disrespect in direction of the 130-year-old Mohun Bagan whose main colors are inexperienced and maroon. ATKMB’s present away is a mixture of white and maroon, one thing lots of supporters love.
“Whenever there is an attempt to promote the brand of ATK we have protested. The black colour is not the issue but a close look will tell anybody that the design is the same as that of last season’s defending champions ATK – which is now defunct,” Tuhin Patel, one of many followers protesting at Dharmatala, final month had instructed this web site.
“We have no problem with the stakeholders. Our only problem is with repeated publicity of brand ATK. We as diehard supporters of the club feel that this is an insult to the legacy of Mohun Bagan Athletic Club – established in the year 1889 with more than 100 major title victories,” he had added.
Noticeably, nearly all ISL matches, witnessed ‘fan wall’ contributors holding up ‘Remove ATK’ indicators.
Different kind of posters are hanging within the fan wall so, the admins of Fan wall take away one among our members however 5 are nonetheless there. #PleasureMohunBagan #Theresistance #RemoveATK#KhelaHobe #greenandmaroonwarriors pic.twitter.com/HU0gQVkwb6
— Green & Maroon Warriors (@gmwarriors_17) February 6, 2021
“Never compromise with their own mother club’s respect, legacy, and heritage. We tried our best to keep our promise and the fight will continue, let’s roar #RemoveATK together,” learn a press release from a Mariners fan web page.
