Rahul Gandhi visits New Zealand, assures security of players

On a visit to New Zealand, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has said the Indian government will take all possible steps to ensure safety of international players, according to an opposition leader.

The General Secretary of the Congress Party, who is in New Zealand on a fellowship, gave this assurance when he met Labour Party foreign affairs spokesman Chris Carter in Wellington, ‘New Zealand Herald’ reported on Wednesday, quoting the opposition leader.

His remarks follow a warning by PoK-based HuJI commander Ilyas Kashmiri - whose 313 Brigade is an operational arm of al-Qaeda - to the world community not to send their people to the 2010 Hockey World Cup, IPL cricket tournament and the Commonwealth Games to be held in Delhi in October.

Carter said he had discussed the security situation with Rahul and “came away feeling confident that India was very aware of the implications of the threats and was taking all possible steps to ensure safety,” the report said.

Carter said recent terror attacks in India meant such threats had to be taken seriously.

However, he said he was confident Indian authorities had a good handle on the situation and wanted to see New Zealand sports teams continue with scheduled visits.

“My initial thoughts are to go - in fact you have to go - otherwise you give in to the terrorists,” he said.

At the same time, he said those travelling to India also needed to be aware of security risks and be sensible with their own travel arrangements.

Gill opens first Games avenue

Sports Minister M. S. Gill on Sunday opened the revamped Major Dhyan Chand National stadium, the first Commonwealth Games venue to be finished, and said other venues for the October mega event will be completed on time.

The remodelled stadium, which is scheduled to host the hockey World Cup Feb 28-March 13, is the first among the Commonwealth Games venues to be opened.

The stadium, revamped at a cost of Rs.262 crore, is spread over 36 acres, has three synthetic pitches, two conforming to international standards and the third a practice pitch. New poly-grass turf has been laid on all the pitches which are equipped with new sprinkler systems.

The stadium has a sitting capacity of about 16,200 spectators. The second pitch outside the main arena has 900 permanent seats and a provision for 1,600 temporary seats.

Mr. The stadium was originally built in 1933 as an amphitheatre. It was renovated for the first Asian Games held in 1951 and then for the 1982 Asian Games.

“The stadium has a rich legacy. It is synonymous with Indian hockey. It brings back memories of my childhood when I came here with my father from Meerut during the first Asian Games to see India play in the football finals. I remember Mr. Mewalal scoring a bicycle kick goal. Today, I recall those nostalgic moments,” Mr. Gill said.

Mr. Gill said the stadium could be completed on time because of the hard work of the engineers and the 2000 workers.

“When I first visited the stadium last year, it was in a mess with construction work going on and I wondered whether it could be completed on time. But the CPWD engineers, Sports Authority of India officials gave me assurance that it will be done on time.”

“It could be possible because of them and more importantly the 2000 people, who come from all over the country, and have worked day and night in this cold, to complete the work in one year,” Mr. Gill said amid loud applause from the guests and the workers.

“We got the hosting rights of the Commonwealth Games in 2003. I do not know what happened in five years, but since I came in 2008, I have visited the sites regularly. I have sat with the officials and made sure that the work is completed.”

“I can assure you that with the opening of this stadium, we have made a beginning and now you will see the venues will be completed one after another. Yes, we could have finished the work one year in advance, like they are doing in London, to get the facilities tested, but at least we can ensure that the venues will come up well before the Commonwealth Games.”

Mr. Gill used the opportunity to take a dig at the national sports federations.

“If you don’t deserve to be there, then you should voluntarily and happily step aside,” Mr. Gill said while talking about the Weightlifting Federation of India (WFI) that has been newly elected following the doping mess.