In a last ditch-attempt to save the Commonwealth Games, due to start here on October 3, the Centre has finally decided to move in. Marginalising the controversial head of the Games organising committee, Mr Suresh Kalmadi, two Cabinet ministers — Mr S. Jaipal Reddy (urban development) and Mr M.S. Gill (sports) — are now expected to oversee all the preparations for the Games in the remaining time left and clean up the mess.
The snub to Mr Kalmadi became evident as neither he nor any OC member was called for a high-level meeting called by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at his residence on Thursday evening. Those present included, besides these two Cabinet members, Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit, lieutenant-governor Tejendra Khanna, national security adviser Shivshankar Menon and Union home secretary G.K. Pillai.
It has also been decided that the Prime Minister will not meet the president of the Commonwealth Games Federation, Mr Michael Fennell, who arrived in New Delhi on Thursday amid reports of mounting glitches surrounding Games preparations. It has been conveyed to the Games organisers that in case Mr Fennell has any query he could meet Cabinet Secretary K.M. Chandrashekhar or the urban development minister.
At the meeting, Ms Sheila Dikshit was also asked to press in all available Delhi government resources to spruce up the Commonwealth Games Village, whose sorry condition has become a major source of global embarrassment for the Indian government.
While Mr Kalmadi will continue to head the CWG organising committee, any major step regarding the Games will from now on be taken by Mr Jaipal Reddy, who heads the Group of Ministers empowered to take decisions on the Games.
Sources said that with just a few more days left for the Games to begin, the government has decided against mounting pressure on Mr Kalmadi to step down as organising committee chief.
The meeting also took note of security measures being taken at the Games. The home secretary and the national security adviser briefed the Prime Minister on the steps taken to strengthen security at the Games. Earlier in the day, home minister P. Chidambaram met the Prime Minister to discuss security measures regarding the Games, with particular focus on the Games Village. The home ministry also directed the OC to finish all work at all Games-related sites in the next 24 hours so that the police and security agencies could sanitise and secure them completely.
The external affairs ministry has also swung into action and started approaching the participating countries to assure them of foolproof security at the Games.
Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard on Thursday declared that “there is a high risk of terrorism in New Delhi during the Games... and our travel advice has made it clear that since 2000 there have been at least 14 major terrorist attacks in New Delhi”. She also added that any “decision on whether to attend the Games is obviously a matter for individuals, just like any decision to travel is a matter for individuals.”
The meeting at the PM’s residence also took note of the adverse publicity generated against India across the world due to the Games glitches, with several international news agencies and television channels flashing pictures of the filthy conditions at the Games Village.
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Canada, NZ delay teams
New Delhi: New Zealand joined Canada and Scotland in delaying sending athletes to New Delhi. Other nations have also threatened to stay home. On Thursday, the New Zealand Olympic Committee told athletes to delay their arrival until at least next Tuesday.
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Jats threaten stir on Oct. 3
Chandigarh: Jats agitating for job reservations in Haryana have threatened to block all roads and rail traffic to New Delhi on October 3, when the grand opening of the Commonwealth Games is to take place.