Kolkata: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday brokered peace between the warring East Bengal and their investors Shree Cement Limited and announced that the red-and-gold outfit would play in the upcoming Indian Super League, ending months of uncertainty.
"Khela hobe (the game is on). I'm very happy today," Banerjee announced at the state secretariat Nabanna.
"All is well that ends well. They had some uncertainties till now whether they would be able to play in ISL but now East Bengal's problem is solved. Shree Cement has accepted my request (to extend the deal) with East Bengal and have accepted all my proposals."
Banerjee later urged the representatives of both East Bengal and Shree Cement to shake hands as she once again played a key role, about a year after she had roped in the Rajasthan-based investors to acquire a 76 per cent stake that had paved the century-old club's last minute entry to ISL last season.
"Go and shake hands and I will remain in between," Banerjee told the representatives of Shree Cement and East Bengal.
Shree Cement Ltd was represented by their company secretary SS Khandelwal, chief finance officer S Jaju and senior manager Sandeep Kumar, while East bengal had top executive official Debabrata Sarkar and Sadananda Mukherjee.
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The meeeting was called by the chief minister after SCL shot off a letter to Banerjee on Monday, expressing their decision to end the five-year deal after EB management were adamant in not signing the final agreement. The deadlock lasted for about eight months and there were statewide fan protests.
"East Bengal played the ISL last year owing to Shree Cement. This time things were a bit uncertain because of which I too became a bit hostile (on Monday).