Chaos reigns as Ministers gate-crash

Chaos reigns as Ministers gate-crash

NAGPUR, MARCH 19: These were gate-crashers of a different type. State Minister-types, to be precise. Minister of State for Home Manikrao Thakre, Minister of State for Sports Anil Deshmukh, Minister of State for Higher and Technical Education Anees Ahmed, Guardian Minister Shivajirao Moghe, Member of Parliament Vilas Muttemwar -- with their families, personal staff and security personnel in tow -- stormed into the BCCI President's Box despite not having invitations.

Chaos reigned in the already fully-occupied President's Box and everyone present including BCCI secretary Jayawant Lele were `stumped'. The overzealous security men of the ministers, loathe to see their bosses standing and watching the match, immediately shooed away the rightful occupants of the first two rows to make way for the ministers.

The `ousted' invitees had to stand behind the Box and partake of the pleasure of the India-Proteas high-scoring match.

It was learnt that all the above politicians were issued passes of the VIP Box of the Bilimoria Pavilion (situated next to the pavilion) but having watched the match for nearly two hours in the morning from there, the desire for a better view made them barge into the President's Box, never mind the inconvenience to others.

But Opposition Leader in the Legislative Council Nitin Gadkari remained in his allocated seat in the VIP Box till the very end.

When contacted, a furious Chairman of the Organising Committee Shashank Manohar slammed the VIPs: ``It is shameful on the part of our politicians. Ours (VCA) is not a government organisation and they should have shown some respect for at least the invitees.''