2023-10-05 03:43:27
The tickets are distributed by local BJP leaders
AHMEDABAD: Up to 40,000 women will be able to watch the game for free in today’s first match at the Narendra Modi Stadium, the opening venue of the ODI Cricket World Cup. Ward-level local leaders of the BJP in Ahmedabad are distributing tickets to the stadium to watch the opening match between defending champions England and last year’s runners-up New Zealand for free.
Lalit Wadhawan, BJP vice-president of Bodakdev area, said that the idea of bringing women into the stadium for free was inspired by the passage of the Women’s Reservation Bill in Parliament last month.
Apart from the tickets, complimentary coupons for tea and lunch are provided to the women to reach the stadium.
It is the largest cricket stadium in the world. Narendra Modi Stadium has 1.3 lakh seats. The BJP leaders are trying to solve the lack of candidates in the inaugural contest.
Around 40,000 women from Ahmedabad will visit the stadium tomorrow to watch the match, Lalit Wadhawan, BJP vice-president in Bodakdev, told The Indian Express. “Our volunteers have been asked to send names. The ticket was handed over to them today. We got these tickets from above. Even the 33 percent women’s reservation bill has been passed. These women will reach the stadium on their own. They will be given tea and food coupons,” said the bride.
Asked if the party had made a special effort to mobilize women for the inaugural contest, Gujarat BJP spokesperson Yamal Vyas said no such effort had been made. “It would be great if women went in droves. But the party is not making any special effort for that,” said Vyas.
The mass mobilization in the city started a few days ago when BJP ward members asked their workers through a WhatsApp message to list the names of women who were interested in seeing the world from apartments and booth areas in Ahmedabad. The message asked the activists to send the names and mobile numbers of interested women to the designated local leader.
“Passes are valid only for women. They will also be given two tokens for tea. Breakfast and lunch will be served at the stadium. Many people can send their names till 5 pm this past Monday,” says a forwarded message on WhatsApp.
An official of the Gujarat Cricket Association confirmed that all the tickets for the match between England and New Zealand have not been sold. “Elsewhere school children are invited to watch the game to create a stadium-filling atmosphere. “The only difference here is that there will be women in the stands,” he said. Meanwhile, the official refused to answer the question regarding who paid for the tickets.
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