Sourav Ganguly slams BJP critics, says he can travel wherever he wants

Sourav Ganguly, a former Indian cricket captain who had recently come under fire from the saffron camp for traveling to Spain with chief minister Mamata Banerjee and announcing an investment plan for Bengal there, stepped out of the proverbial crease on Thursday to knock his detractors out of the park with a defiant statement.

When asked how he would respond to the BJP's harsh criticism while he was traveling with Mamata in Spain, Ganguly replied he would act whatever he saw fit, as long as he is in the right.

"Look, brother, I am a unique person. I am not a minister, councillor, MLA, or MP. I'm not attached to any political party. I'll travel wherever I choose. I'll travel wherever I please. I have no one to answer to. I'll go wherever I think it's appropriate. The 51-year-old former India captain, who served as the BCCI president up until last year, claimed, "I get invited by the world.

Ganguly urged people seeking to stir up trouble with this, saying, "I am not interested in politics... so please don't do that." At a news conference about Muttiah Muralitharan's biopic, 800, Ganguly addressed the media and stated, "We are credible people. I don't have any political agenda.

After Ganguly hailed Bengal's investment climate and revealed investment intentions for a steel facility in West Midnapore's Salboni, in Madrid on September 15, the BJP's dissatisfaction with him became apparent.

Suvendu Adhikari, the leader of the opposition in the Assembly, and BJP state unit chairman Sukanta Majumdar made bellicose references to Ganguly, claiming Mamata had used him to "fool the people" of Bengal.

Up until he was admitted to the hospital with cardiac problems before of the 2021 Assembly elections, rumors of Ganguly joining the BJP were rampant. Even in the summer of 2022, he entertained Amit Shah, the Union home minister.

Since then, a lot appears to have changed.

"I'll go wherever I'm invited and feel like I should," she replied. Everyone goes, different people go, so what's the big deal? Only here do I see such a commotion and discussion going on, claimed Ganguly, who was traveling to Spain with a Bengal delegation led by Mamata to look for funding for the La Liga of state and court football.

"We don't live in an animal world; instead, we live in a society where you go out and meet others. I'll go wherever I want because of that, he continued.

"I am a private individual and a public figure.... I don't do the wrong things as long as I follow the law and don't injure anyone... "I'll do it," Ganguly, also known as "Dada," responded.

Ganguly announced an investment in Salboni in Madrid as part of a Bengal Global Business Summit campaign, which is expected to result in the creation of 6,000 new employment. The main proponent of the project will be Captain Steel India Ltd, which produces TMT bars.

Ganguly responded that the location was irrelevant when questioned why he announced Salboni in Madrid rather than Bengal, a question posed not only by the BJP but also by the CPM and the Congress.

"The announcement would have happened in Delhi if the program had been held there. It would have happened in Calcutta if it had occurred there. Spain, Calcutta, and Delhi are all the same (in this regard)," he stated.

When asked about the Salboni plan, he responded, "Yes, the plant will definitely happen... between 16 and 20 months.