Continuing his tirade against Suresh Kalmadi, Sports Minister Ajay Maken on Sunday said that the ‘tainted’ sports administrator should not attend the London Olympics and termed as “absurd” the demand for his resignation.
A day after Mr. Kalmadi hit out at the Sports Minister, accusing him of carrying out a vilification campaign, Mr. Maken said that the sacked CWG chief should desist from going to the Olympics and he had taken up the mater with the Indian Olympics Association (IOA).
“I have taken up the matter with the IOA. I have asked the IOA to speak to the IAAF (International Athletics Federation) and the IOC and explain them the matter. He (Kalmadi) will nor be part of any official delegation from India neither of the IOA nor of the government,” Mr. Maken told reporters here.
“I want to advise Mr. Kalmadi that he should not go to the Olympics unless he is cleared of all the charges,” he said.
On Mr. Kalmadi’s demand that he should resign for contempt of court, Mr. Maken said that he had no morale authority to demand such a thing.
A Delhi court on Thursday allowed Mr. Kalmadi to travel to London for the Olympics, evoking sharp reaction from Mr. Maken and some former athletes.