Man who built the Motera Stadium not invited to 'Namaste Trump' event in Ahmedabad

Donald Trump, the President of the United States of America, visited India on a short trip and was welcomed by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Ahmedabad airport with a warm hug. Trump is being accompanied by his wife, first lady Melania Trump also.

The caravan first travelled to Mahatma Gandhi’s Sabarmati Ashram near the banks of the river Sabarmati and tried hands at spinning the charkha and signed the visitors’ book as well. Then they moved to the biggest cricket stadium in the world, the New Sardar Patel Stadium in Motera, which holds 1.10 lakh spectators. Both Modi and Trump also gave their respective speeches thanking each other.

Trump even mentioned Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli in his speech, along with Bollywood and DDLJ. However, one of the prominent personalities connected to the Motera stadium was not invited to the Namaste Trump even in Ahmedabad, a big oversight by the organizers and even the BCCI on their part.

The man who floated the idea of Motera Stadium not invited to the event

As per reports of Mumbai Mirror, former vice-president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and former VP of Gujarat Cricket Association (GCA) Mrugesh Jaikrishna, who had floated a sperate stadium, way back in 1983, was not invited to the Namaste Trump event. He got approval and got the stadium constructed in eight months and 13 days, 37 years ago.

“No, I have not been invited. But the joy in my heart to see Motera become the world’s biggest stadium is 99.9% more than any other feeling. When such a big event is happening at Motera, whether or not I am invited is inconsequential,” Jaikrishna was quoted as saying by Mumbai Mirror. He also recalled how then CM of Gujarat Madhavsinh Solanki provided him with land for the stadium.

“He saw the merit in constructing another stadium and allotted us land in Motera. He stood by us despite staunch opposition from leaders of his own party. Acquiring the plot boosted our confidence. We knew we could achieve anything,” he added.

He also praised Narendra Modi, who after becoming the CM of Gujarat took interest in developing the stadium further by adding facilities and bettering the ground on the whole. He said that the stadium becoming the biggest in the world was a matter of great pride for him and all Gujaratis.

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