The great sports extravaganza, the Common Wealth Games-2010 is over. An event which would have turned out to be an abject failure thanks to the timely intervention of Prime Minister Dr. ManMohan Singh concluded on a grand note thus helping to save the face of India - before the world. True, crores must have been poured into event at the last moment that is another matter but it was inevitable to finish the arrangments on a war-footing since the dead-line was staring in the face of the responsible ones. The justification for holding the grand extravaganza spending Rs 70000 crores+ though questionable at a time the nation is passing through difficult times.
Now that after controversies after controversies, flops after flops, scams after scams, the time has arrived to conduct a post-mortem and accordingly the govt has appointed a three member committee headed by former Comptroller and Auditor General V.K.Shunglu, to look into the allegations levelled about the ways the games were being organised on one side. And washing dirty linen in public - trading of charges and counter charges - everything in public, as nobody has anything to 'hide'. The Pandora's box already opened and the coming days are going to witness a number of funny things.
The focal point of all allegations reportedly is a gentleman named Suresh Kalmadi, who holds the position of Chairman Olympics Committee. It would have been between if he on his own volition stepped down till the enquiry is completed and in the event of him emerging unscathed could be enthroned once again with a good certificate. No, the gentleman reportedly is sticking to his post albeit countless allegations perhaps he must be thinking that his hands are free of stains of corruption. In the event of him held culpable by the committee pointing out facts and figures, he will be eased out of his post by the Prime Minister himself.
Even otherwise PM could have demanded him to step aside for while ie. till the enquiry is completed but the former keeps his mouth shut, baffling or puzzling to say the least. Heave a sigh of deep relief, friends, the grand gala has come to a somewhat happy end that itself is a credit as many must have felt like post-poning the game considering the sorry state of affairs prevailing even a few days before the games were to begin. The collapse of a foot-overbridge connecting Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, the collapse of roofing of the weight-lifting stage, the dirt and filth accumulated at the Games village and the firing at the Juma Masjid premises by unknown elements posing a threat to security coverage, all added to woes of authorities concerned.
Now that, everything is over, may I point out the reported disappearance of a great patriot days before the games were to be commenced and his subsequent appearance abroad. He is none other than our own Mani Shankar Iyer, former Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs. His love and patriotism towards his Mother Country far surpasses our own and that reported to be the reason for flying abroad his tender mind could not have endured Indian sports scene being vitiated due to corruptions, irresponsibility, so many other reasons.
As a former seasoned diplomat and a former Indian Minister he is widely respected and acclaimed across the world. He has already covered England and US and of late he was reportedly in US.
His charges are countless and he reportedly made them public to the media persons in USA. Whether he aired his opinions elsewhere, no idea, still in the garb of a Congressman and let me point out each of them.
1) A poor nation like India cannot afford to hold a sports extravaganza like Common Wealth Games spending Rs 70000 crores+ while millions of Indians are struggling to make both ends meet.
2) The first step India should have done was to spend the said amount for developing sports facilities which are in a dismal state as of now.
3) A part of the Rs. 70000 crores if spent to our struggling sports youth and children and according to him 95 percent of them are deprived of such facilities would have been a great deed.
4) Rs. 960 crores spent to construct the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium according to Mani Shankar Iyer involves deep corruption.
5) As to the reports that there were not much audience left to watch the concluding ceremony if the truth was on those lines why couldn't the authorities have invited the construction labourers who toiled day-in and day-out to meet the deadlines set by the authorities to complete the preparatory works in time.
What all he uttered abroad are absolutely true but the mute question being why he continues to be a Congress loyalist even at this moment.
Unable to witness and endure such unendurable things, Mani left India for abroad with a vow to return only upon completion all such dirty goings on, wishing Suresh Kalmadi a Merry X'Mas and Happy New Year. Whether his was a merry go round keeping all pains and sorrows to himself.
Next Common Wealth Games are scheduled to commence at Glasgow, Scotland in 2014, and Mani Shankar Iyer would be a welcome, respectable guest there.
Just before his going abroad, to a query posed by CNN-IBN, Editor-in-Chief, Rajdeep Sardesai, why couldn't he seek an appointment with Congress President Soniaji who incidentally is UPA Chairperson also if not possible at least Rahulji to air his grievances over the shoddy way the preparations were going on, the loyal Congressman that Mr.Iyer is, cleverly evaded it instead started speaking about other things. A typical Congressman indeed.
Dear Mani, the games over, now please comeback , Mother India anxiously waits for you.
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