Aiyar vs Kalmadi, the game is all politics

Agencies

New Delhi, 28 July 2010: The Commonwealth Games begin in Delhi in October but before that the fight is between Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar and Suresh Kalmadi, chairman of the games organising committee. Aiyar, a former sports minister, on Tuesday said he would be "happy" if the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi are “spoilt”. "Personally, I will be unhappy if the Commonwealth Games are successful," Aiyar, a nominated Rajya Sabha member, told reporters outside parliament.

 

"I am very happy with the rains, firstly because it will ensure a good agriculture for the country and secondly because it will ensure that the Commonwealth Games are spoilt," Aiyar said. "If the Commonwealth Games are successful, they will further organise Asian Games and other events... I will be happy if the Games are spoilt," he said. Aiyar said the funds spent for the October 3-14 Games could have been utilised for ensuring a better sporting future for Indian children by providing them sports training.

 

 

"Just imagine if we would have spent the Rs 35,000 crore in providing training to the children, we would have won medals in every international sporting event," Aiyar said. Aiyar, who was nominated to Rajya Sabha after he lost the Lok Sabha election, also alleged that India has bribed other Commonwealth nations for the Games.

 

"To take the Games, the Olympic association of every Commonwealth country was given one lakh dollars; it was given to Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and Britain. Those countries did not need this money," he said. "I would call it a bribe, I don’t know what it is called from the legal point of view."

 

Kalmadi hits back

 

Kalmadi, while speaking at a function in Delhi, gave a curt response to Aiyar’s comments. “Mr Mani Shankar Aiyar, nobody can spoil the Commonwealth Games. Things are on track; stadiums have been built. If Mr Aiyar had continued to be the Sports Minister, you probably would not have seen these stadiums,” he said.

 

"No individual can spoil the Games. It is totally irresponsible and ridiculous statement from such a senior person, who has also headed the sports ministry earlier. No Indian national can speak like that. "With the Commonwealth Games fast approaching, he should know his responsibilities and think before making such a statement. He is a nominated member of Rajya Sabha and it is totally an anti-national statement from him," said Kalmadi.

 

"It was because of his openness that he was removed from the Sports Minister’s post. If he would have been the minister, the Commonwealth Games would never have come to India," he said. Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari, however, refused to comment on Aiyar’s "personal opinion" and said the whole world will see a successful Commonwealth Games 2010.

 

"Honourable Mani Shankar Aiyar is a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha, I will not comment on his personal opinion," Tewari told reporters. "The Commonwealth Games is a matter of pride for the entire nation and when it will be executed the whole world will see successful Games," Tewari said. Congress MP from Delhi Sandeep Dikshit played down Aiyar’s comments. “I do not take him seriously," he said.