A surge in the sale of wickets amid the scorching summer heat has surprised many sports goods traders in Bengal's Murshidabad district. According to a report by Anandabazar Patrika Online, nearly 500 stumps have been sold so far in various parts of the entire Domkal subdivision in just a few days. However, the spike in stump sales might have one believe that other equipment used in the 'Gentleman's Game' were also selling like hotcakes. However, that is not the case, leading one to wonder if this had something to do with the upcoming panchayat polls.
While stumps flew off the shelves in Domkal, bats and balls hardly drew customers. The owner of a shop that sells sports equipment was quoted as saying by Anandabazar Patrika Online, "The sale of stumps has unexpectedly increased, but there hasn't been any noticeable rise in the sale of bats or balls." When prodded about why the sale of wickets is seeing this sudden surge, shopowners remained silent. This silence spoke volumes, especially as the only "heated event" in Bengal right now is the panchayat poll.
Amid this development, allegations of political party workers using sticks and stumps to attack their opponents are flying thick and fast. Both the Opposition — comprising the BJP, the Congress, and the CPI(M) — and the ruling Trinamool Congress are divided on every issue but are on the same page when it comes to trading charges. Both sides allege that their respective candidates are being prevented from filing nominations by means of force and intimidation. Several stray incidents of attacks on both the ruling and the Opposition candidates have come to the fore.
After a clash between the Trinamool Congress and the Left-Congress alliance on Saturday over the submission of nominations for the panchayat election in Domkal, Trinamool block president Hajikul Islam said, "Throughout the day, images of the violence were being widely shared on social media. Looking at the faces of the victims in those images, it is clear who were wielding the stumps that day." According to the report, Islam said that Trinamool has stopped the "politics of violence, but the Congress-Left alliance want to bring it back". He further alleged that the first step towards it is bringing in the "stump culture" to take TMC's wicket.
In response to his statement, Mustafizur Rahman, the secretary of the CPI(M)'s area committee in Domkal, said, "We did not raise the 'Khela hobe' slogan, nor do we use sports equipment for political purposes. Our comrades use the sticks only to hoist flags. The 'khela hobe slogan, use of sticks and stumps for politics are part of the Trinamool's culture." However, a political leader, speaking on the condition of anonymity, described stumps as "formidable weapons".
WHAT DOES THE WEST BENGAL POLICE HAVE TO SAY
The police claim that those caught wielding such sticks or wickets have been arrested. The Anandabazar Patrika report, quoting sources, stated that the surge in demand pushed up the prices of stumps.
Stumps worth Rs 50 are being sold for nearly double the price — at Rs 80 to Rs 100 — and the demand is still rising. A shopkeeper revealed, "There isn't much demand for cricket now. I had a stock of 50 stumps in my shop. They are all stumps for playing tennis ball cricket. Almost all the units were sold within a few hours on Saturday morning." He further said, "Initially, I couldn't understand, but later I realized that those who were buying the stumps were not even interested in the sport. They are just political players."
Praveen Das, a sports enthusiast from the district, was quoted as saying, "Field sports is almost absent now. The equipment is now being used in the arena of politics."