Mani, Kalmadi slug it out over CWG

The former sports minister, Mr Mani Shankar Aiyar was labelled “anti-national” by Commonwealth Games organising committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi after the senior Congress leader’s critical comments on the quadrennial event.

Mr Aiyar, who has been a vocal critic of the Games, went as far as calling the patrons of the event “evil”. “I am delighted the rains are causing difficulties for the Commonwealth Games. Basically, I will be very unhappy if the Games are successful because then they will start bringing Asian Games, Olympic Games and all these,” Mr Aiyar told reporters outside Parliament House on Tuesday.

“Those who are patronising the Games can only be evil. Thousands of crores are being spent on a circus like this while common children are being deprived of basic facilities to play sport,” Mr Aiyar said.

Reacting to the comments, Mr Kalmadi said, “No individual can spoil the Games. It is a totally irresponsible and ridiculous statement from such a senior person, who has also headed the sports ministry earlier. No Indian national can speak like this.”

He added: “With the Commonwealth Games fast approaching, he should know his responsibilities and think before making such a statement. He is an elected member of the Rajya Sabha and it is an anti-national statement from him.”

“It was because of his openness that he was removed from the sport minister’s post. If he would have been the minister, the Commonwealth Games would never have come to India,” Mr Kalmadi said.