Only Kolkata will rule: SRK

Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee stole the thunder from the IPL champs Kolkata Knight Riders on Tuesday afternoon – on the field at Eden Gardens and off the field in front of the Writer's Buildings. The felicitation ceremony was spontaneous enough – with a 70,000-strong home crowd at Eden roaring to every single move by Shah Rukh – and giving in to every single command of Mamata Banerjee, who tried to put in a semblance of order to one mad carnival.

Banerjee took command from the word 'go' when King Khan made his first appearance in front of Writer's Buildings and the two held the IPL cup aloft for the shutterbugs. Clad in a white sari with a purple border and

pallu, a visibly happy Banerjee welcomed the KKR team–led by Gautam Gambhir – before that with flowers and scarves. Ministers Amit Mitra and Mukul Roy also did the honours. King Khan had not joined the KKR team in its roadshow from south Kolkata to Writer's earlier but he did make up for it in no uncertain ways during the rest of the afternoon.

'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 said.

Banerjee and team KKR walked to Eden Gardens, where members of Bengali bands Chandrabindoo and Bhoomi had already set up their drums. As hit numbers like

Dudh na khele hobe na bhalo chele and Dhitang Dhitang bole were sung, SRK and team members broke into a jig, egged on by Tolly heroes Jeet and Dev. Co-owner and old friend Juhi Chawla too joined King Khan in the song and dance till Banerjee – and Governor M K Narayanan–took charge on the stage. Said Cabinet Minister Subrata Mukherjee, one of the organisers, 'I can tell you that Shah Rukh Khan was highly satisfied with the reception. We had to be wary of spending not too lavishly and still make it a spontaneous celebration'.

On the grounds, the national anthem was subsequently played by the Police Band, after which Narayanan and Banerjee handed over a gold chain and a scarf each to the players, owners and management staff of KKR. As the cake

sandesh was cut by the co-owners and captain of team KKR, the theme song, Korbo Lorbo Jitbo Re was heard and the crowds at Eden broke into thundering applause. 

The victory lap followed even as a 30,000 strong crowd waited outside the gates, tuning in to the victory vibrations. But the most important applause for Banerjee's felicitation ceremony probably came from Governor Narayanan who asked the crowds to clap for the 'real paribartan' that this Government had ushered for Bengal.


KKR FANS FACE POLICE BATONS OUTSIDE EDEN

As celebrations continued inside Eden Gardens, some spectators outside had to face police's wrath.

The police resorted to baton charge to control the unruly crowds during the felicitation of IPL champions KKR.

The police, however, denied they had resorted to a baton charge. With the entry to the stadium made free by Banerjee, the swelling crowds made the situation go out of control after fans broke the barricades. Many fans were seen running outside the stadium. 

Television visuals showed some fans crying after being beaten up by police.

'The administration should have made better arrangements for a programme of such magnitude,' said Nauseem, who could not enter the stadium.