Most Bengal Inc captains prefer to skip IPL opening show

Kolkata, April 2 (IANS) Though the eastern metropolis hosted a gala opening ceremony of the Indian Premier League (IPL) Tuesday evening, most Bengal industry captains skipped the Salt Lake Stadium.

Many of the entrepreneurs, however, said they would watch the ceremony on television, despite their busy work schedule.

“I am not going to the stadium. But I shall be watching this great show on television,” Harshavardhan Neotia, chairman of Ambuja Realty, told IANS.

Promising to give a spectacular opening ceremony at the nearly two-hour show at the Salt Lake Stadium, Bollywood megastar Shahrukh Khan said it would be an unprecedented experience for the country.

Echoing Neotia, Sheo Shankar Bagaria, head of the Bagaria Group, said he would prefer to see it live on television

Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Kallol Datta and Assocham (Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry) co-chairman Debmallya Banerjee said they stayed away from the Stadium, where Bollywood stars and international rapper Pitbull performed.

Banerjee, however, observed that the show would enhance Kolkata’s visibility worldwide.

“It is a very positive thing amid many negatives,” he said.

Tata Steel Processing & Distribution Ltd (TSPDL) managing director Sandipan Chakraborty and Kolkata-based Patton Group managing director Sanjay Budhia said they could not attend the glitz ceremony as they had to go to Delhi for the annual general meeting of industry body CII.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi are scheduled to address industry iconsduring the two-day session of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) starting Wednesday.

On the other hand, Deepak Jalan, managing director of Kolkata-basedLinc Penand Plastics Ltd said he would enjoy the inaugural ceremony at the stadium.

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