Pranab now a part of East Bengal club family

Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee is now a part of the East Bengal family. The veteran Congress leader was conferred with the honorary life membership of the club as the red-and-golds celebrated their 91st Foundation Day in Kolkata on Sunday.

Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee is now a part of the East Bengal family. The veteran Congress leader was conferred with the honorary life membership of the club as the red-and-golds celebrated their 91st Foundation Day in Kolkata on Sunday.

You have to earn an honour like this. East Bengal has a rich heritage and their contribution to Indian football is immense, Mukherjee said. I hope to develop the football infrastructure in India, he added.

The club also felicitated three of its former footballers Tulsidas Balaram,Paltu Roy and Manilal Ghatak who were lifelong associated with the red-and-golds. They were presented with a cash award of Rs 51,000 each. Balaram,a hero of the 1956 Melbourne Olympics where the Indian football team finished fourth,however,didnt attend the programme as he was busy with the Queens Baton Relay. The occasion was also graced by former stars like P K Banerjee,Sailen Manna,Shyam Thapa among others.

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