After invite,cricketers denied entry to Modi fast

At every Sadbhavna Mission event,participants need cards issued by the organisers

After being invited to attend Chief Minister Narendra Modis Sadbhavana Mission fast in Rajkot on Monday,Saurashtras Ranji team,including stars like Cheteshwar Pujara,Ravindra Jadeja and Jaydev Unadkat,were not allowed to enter the venue apparently because they did not have valid passes.

According to Saurashtra Cricket Association officials,a bus carrying nearly 25 persons,including current and former Ranji players,was forced to take a U-turn by securitymen since only three of them,Pujara,Jadeja and Unadkat,had passes while the rest had BJPs invitations passed on to them by the SCA. Many of the players had specially come to Rajkot for the event.

The team was outside the venue at Race Course Ground. However,the security personnel denied them entry, said a top official from SCA. Even Pujara,Jadeja and Unadkat,who now have a standing in national team circuit,had to go back.

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According to sources,the players waited in the bus for a while,but in vain. When contacted,Pujara declined to comment.

At every Sadbhavna Mission event,participants need cards issued by the organisers. These passes are handed over to local groups,communities,professionals and individuals by local BJP leaders,who are given a target for bringing people to the event.

Earlier,Rajkot city BJP president Dhansukh Bhanderi had said they expected 25 cricketers to greet Modi on the stage. On Monday,however,Bhanderi was not available for comment.

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