Bend it like Ramdev

“The PM in his Mann Ki Baat (radio address) in March talked about promoting football. So Baba Ramdev decided to create awareness,” he said.

Ramdev is a known supporter of Modi and is often seen in the company of BJP politicians now. “Bollywood stars Abhishek Bachchan, Ranbir Kapoor, Arjun Kapoor, Dino Morea, Siddharth Malhotra and several more will represent the All Stars Football Club, a charity club started by film producerBuntyWalia,”Guptasaid.

The MPs will be led by Babul Supriyo, the BJP MP from West Bengal who is junior minister in the heavy industries and public enterprises ministry. The skipper can count on the experience and skills of Prasun Banerjee, the former India captain who is now a Trinamool Congress MP.

Other confirmed team-mates till now are BJP MPs Manoj Tewari, Parvesh Verma, Kamlesh Paswan, Satish Gautam, Bhola Singh, Indian National Lok Dal’s Dushyant Chautala and Ram Mohan Naidu of the TDP. In all, some 21 MPs and senior ministers are likely to play. “Some of the senior ministers will join their young and fit colleagues on the field for five to 10 minutes,” Gupta said.

Olympic shooting champion Rajyavardhan Rathore, who is the junior information and broadcasting minister, and junior home minister Kiren Rijiju have yet to confirm their participation. Indian cricket board chief and Hamirpur MP Anurag Thakur’s nod is awaitedtoo.“Wehavewrittentosome100 parliamentarians, including those from the Congress,” Gupta said.

Ramdev is not funding the ticketed event, organised by Adhunik, a private art gallery, he