Politicians, who had put up screens for India-Pak match yesterday, didn't face any hurdles

While non-political organisations whichu00a0 did not have the necessary permission had to wrap up screenings of the World Cup semi yesterday, it was smooth sailing for politicians across the board who didn't face any hurdles showing the event on big screens.


Huge numbers of people gathered at Kalachowki where the MNS had organised a screening of the semi-final match between India and Pakistan

The MNS had its big celebration at Kalachowki, the Shiv Sena zonal heads had theirs and even the Congress and the BJP enjoyed big screen shows.

Bala Nandgaonkar, MNS MLA from Sewree had planned a live screening of the match at Prabodhankar Thacekray ground originally.
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But, after the local Kalachowki police station denied them permission, the venue was changed to the nearby Abhyuday Nagar ground. According to the organiser, "Nothing compares to the joy of watching an India-Pakistan match with an enthusiastic crowd on a big screen."

Song and dance

The crowd was seen dancing to the DJ as Sehwag hit four boundaries in an over.

Nitin Sardesai, another MNS MLA from Dadar had organised the screening at Shivaji Park. "Cricket and Shivaji Park cannot be isolated.

We wanted the excitement level to be just like at the stadium in Mohali. Everybody, be it school children or senior citizens, enjoyed the game," Sardesai said.

The Mumbai Region Congress Committee had also planned a screening at its headquarters near Azad Maidan. But it didn't work out.

"People preferred to take a holiday and watch the match at home, so we cancelled the screening," said Kripashankar Singh, president, MRCC.

But Charanjit Singh Sapra, Youth Congress leader, had booked a screen at PVR Cinema in Mulund.

"I wanted my friends and supporters to enjoy the India-Pakistan match on a big screen. So, I booked a hall for 200 people."
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Meanwhile, Bhau Korgaonkar, Shiv Sena's vibhag pramukh managed to put up all his 15 projectors across Kurla and Chembur for people to enjoy the match.

"We have all the permissions and we our screening in halls in these areas. We had screened earlier matches as well," he said.

But BJP MLA from Mulund, Tara Singh, who didn't apply for any permission, showed the match on a TV screen that he put outside his office, where people gathered and started cheering for India.

Even a group of housing societies on HY Marg, Dadar screened the match. "We acquired all the permissions before the match itself and had no problem screening it comfortably.

Even policemen enjoyed it," said Yogesh Rane, one of the organisers.