Shiv Sena activists disrupt Jadeja's press conference

Ajay Jadeja today faced the ire of Shiv Sena activists who shouted slogans against him and disrupted his press conference on the issue of his alleged involvement in match-fixing in cricket.

When the press conference was on, a group of 15 to 20 Shiv Sena activists shouting "match-fixers ko saja do" and "Desh ke gaddaron ko saja do" barged into the Women's Press Corps premises waving black flags. However, the media persons prevailed on them to leave the premises and the press conference resumed after 15 minutes.

The Sena activists had come with eggs and black flags but Jadeja rushed inside the Women's Press Corps premises, the venue of his press conference, before they could lay their hands on him.

Asked whether he knew existence of match-fixing in cricket, Jadeja said "I never had any inkling of any match-fixing in Indian Cricket. I never felt anybody was throwing matches in the Indian Team."

However, he said he would go and depose before the Madhavan Committee of the Cricket Board to clear himself of the cloud of match-fixing charges. Asked about his earlier statment regarding committing certain mistakes, Jadeja said "As I had told CBI and am telling you today, if that (knowing bookies) was a mistake on my part, I am already paying for it."

About the ban slapped on him by BCCI, Jadeja said "I hope it is for 15 days and not the final verdict" and hoped that "truth will come out soon". Jadeja said he was at a loss to understand why Azhar had dragged his name into the picture. When a reporter persisted with the question as to why Azhar named him and Mongia alone, he shot back, "You go and ask him this question."

Jadeja, who has been named by CBI in its report on match-fixing, had organised the press conference to make his stand public on the finding against him by the agency. Former skipper Mohammed Azharuddin had named him as one of the team-mates who was allegedly involved in the fixing of matches with him. Shiv Sena activists also staged a demonstration yesterday and burnt the photographs of Azharuddin.