With just 10 days left for the start of the Commonwealth Games, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh went into damage control mode on Thursday. Against the backdrop of growing international criticism of India's preparedness to hold the Games, Dr. Singh called an emergency meeting of Union ministers and others responsible for the sporting event.
The meeting, sources said, focussed on the abysmal state of the Games Village, where sportspersons are to be accommodated and which has become the subject of much of the negative publicity India has been receiving at home and abroad in the last few days.
The Prime Minister, sources said, impressed on those who had gathered the importance of putting up a good show. “The Prime Minister can't be indifferent to what has been happening,” the sources told The Hindu.
After the meeting, Delhi Lieutenant Governor Tejendra Khanna told journalists that “every effort” was being made to reach the “expected standards,” and that the visiting sportspersons would be “welcomed in the best tradition of Indian hospitality.”
The meeting was attended by Urban Development Minister Jaipal Reddy, Union Sports Minister M.S. Gill, Mr. Khanna, and Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit. National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon and Cabinet Secretary K.M. Chandrashekhar were also present.
The meeting took place a day after Mr. Chandrasekhar directed the Delhi government to take control of the maintenance of the Games Village. More than 1,500 workers were called in early on Thursday morning to clean up the village. Both the Secretary-General of the Games Organising Committee and Ms. Dikshit personally supervised the cleanliness drive.
At the August 14 meeting Dr. Singh “directed the concerned Ministries to conduct thorough investigations into all procedural and other irregularities” and promised that “those found guilty [would] face severe and exemplary punishment.” A crack team of civil servants was set up to monitor the work on the stadiums.
It is learnt that Commonwealth Games Federation chief Mike Fennell, who wanted to meet the Prime Minister, was told, government sources said, that “there was no reason for him to meet the Prime Minister.” Instead, he could meet either the Cabinet Secretary or any of the members of the Group of Ministers on the Commonwealth Games.
I is too late.Enough damages have already been done. The Prime Minister should have intervened much earlier so that many of the unpleasant hiccups and shortcomings could have been avoided. When India is able to gain world-wide recognition on the high rate of growth of the economy, proper conduct of CWG would have definitely enhanced the prestige of our country throughout the world. Anyway it is good that PM has thought it necessary to show personal attention. Reports suggest that after his intervention things are improving fast and there is hope that we will be able to complete the CWG satisfactorily, if not excellently.
Indians always have this habit of making eleventh hour attempts. The worst person in this world is not somebody who commits mistake, but somebody who does not learn from them. We have seen this kind of corrupt "CHALTA HAI, KISKO PADI HAI" attitude for generations. And we still persist on it. I bet if another such an event is about to happen in India (which has very feeble chances now), a similar chaos will happen.
Everybody just tries to shrug responsibility in this country. We desperately need a dictatorship. Indians cannot perform in a lenient system like democracy
It is heartening to know that the PrimeMinister himself has taken the lead to rebuild the much tarnished image of our country due to the actions of corrupt officials and ministers and substandard contractors who were involved in this damaging process. We are holding our heads high as the #1 in high tech but today the image across the world is- poor quality construction,unskilled labour, corruption ridden officialdom- as far as the commonwealth games are concerned. All the very best to Mr.Manmohansingh in his efforts.
Commonwealth Games was an opportunity for our country to showcase the discipline and integrity of our governance and implementation of policies and projects. The continuing allegations, and improper project management, and cleanliness issues only show that we need to go a long way to conduct such events. Let us not be too ambitious to bid for Olympic games until we are very sure about our strengths and weaknesses.
Dear Mr. Singh,
It is too late now.. We can't ever repair the damage. Media overseas have done greater damage by just repeating the same words with the same clips over and over again.. I felt ashamed for the first time to call myself an Indian living in a foreign land..
I will never pardon the OC and the officials who have been responsible for this fiasco.
The commonwealth games have really highlighted India's inability to compete at the global level. Flashy new buildings doesn't equate to progress, which many people in India misguidedly assume. Progress is made at an individual level and how a society treats is poor and vulnerable. South Africa and China successfully hosted world cup and Olympics successfully. Shame on India. For some reason I don't think this is a wake up call for the Indian way of conducting business. I'm afraid things will be back to their usual corrupt self once the games are over.
It is really sad that even for the sake of national pride, corruption could not be eliminated.
If such a public world event is so riddled with corruption and inefficiency, I shudder to think the plight of the numerous organizations, institutions and events run by the government that don't see the light of day. What a travesty India has become?
and they call us the tiger of the east;
Disappointed in the moral degradation that has swallowed the country
Sad.. very sad...
Nothing is going to get better by finding a person to blame all this upon. If there is someone to take the blame then the first person should Dr. Manmohan Singh. The Indian public can live with the corruption and malpractices of the politicians and the public servants, but when it comes to something of international importance with the whole world watching us, we should have had the bare minimum responsibility of keeping things to a living standard. I am ashamed of being a part of this Indian government and feel so helpless to do something which can set things right!
Please after this Common Wealth Games Indian Government should pull out India from this stupid Pommy culture Games (Common Wealth Games) we shouldn’t participate any more. India should conduct only Asian Games, as people are not racist and not jealous on each other.
I love to go back to India and start protest until unless Indian government will pull out India from the stupid commonwealth games from next time.
As the Australians and the English all other racist including their media’s in their own countries hurt our feelings very badly, I curse on them personally and Pray to god punish them such a way they never hurt any one in future so badly.
Whole world know how convicts enter Aborigines Australia and taken over and the way they treat the true owners of Australia.
If any body travel in Sydney trains and go through Trains station are most filthy I ever seen this before, the crime rate here per head more than any developed countries or developing countries in the world, the media especially channel 7, courier mail most racist.
This is one more case where the congress party- known to loot the national excchequer for party funds- has enriched its party coffers by looiting the CW funds. otherwise why is Suresh kalmadi still in charge of the CWG.
Sonia is no different than her MIL.
Just as Indira gandhi used the public sector organizations during her time, Sonia is using the CWG to enrich the coffers of the party.
Poor manmohan Singh has to carry the dying baby and try to restore India's prestige.
It beats any body's imagination as to why not one single person has been sacked in spite of so many complaints about the way the CWG, suresh kalmadi and others have been making merry with the funds.
It is really a shame that things have to come to this point of he said they said. whole thing could have been avoided if those in charge of this CWGames had started working at full steam from the beginning within a few days of being nominated for 2010 games in 2003.
7 years is plenty to finish and get ready say 3 months in advance. then all this unwanted stuff would not have arisen. Its really shame.
Maybe the next time India is nominated to stage international even of this stature be it Olympics or Asian hope people have learnt from this episode and finish everything spick and span 2 months in advance so that nobody gets a chance to carp about our abilities in staging world class events. Anyway let us see whether we get kudos at the end of CWG on October 14. Hope we do and at least will help in forgetting all these which transpired before. Any way this is like coming to the train station at 2.59pm 59 seconds to catch a train departing at 3pm
Why not make it at least 5 minutes ahead of the departure?
If those ministers can not plan and execute a game like commonwealth and Prime Minister has to intervene at eleventh hour to prop up countries image in the world .I question capability (of course not how to siphon money )of those people whose will spend billions of rupees in name of well-fer programs.
Why there is no any person responsible for such fiasco ? And why government is underplaying real situation ?
There are allegation of corruption in every brick and mortar used to built the stadium but I am pretty sure that every one will roam the country and will become minister again without impunity.
It is time for our country to get out of "Chalega" attitude , if we ever aspire to be a super power. Even ordinary people know all preparations for such a big event should be completed at least one month earlier and keep up international standards
It is time for our country to get out of "Chalega" attitude , if we ever aspire to be a super power. Even ordinary people know all preparations for such a big event should be completed at least one month earlier and keep up international standards
Now, even PM knows that it is not possible to do everthing. Sonia Gandhi knew about every corruption taking place right frm the begining, but now its time pay the price and the culprits are 1) Mr. Kalmadi (whom every sportsperson hates frm the bottom of heart). 2) Ms. Dixit (careless lady). 3) MOST corrupt Delhi Muncipal personels. 4) Mr. Bhanot (The Rascal). NOW, WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS AFTER GAMES, ALL THESE PEOPLE WILL BE LET FREE TO MANIPULATE THE INDIAN SPORTS. At least, they should learn from Indian Cricket which the world class (not bcoz of Mr. Pawar, AS HE IS THE MOST CORRUPT MAN ON EARTH) but bcoz of Indian cricket legends who made this game a real eye cathcer and ALL THE WORLD IS FOLLOWING INDIAN CRICKET...
how long we shall keep fooling ourselves and the world around??.the CWG has brought our corruption ,inefficient management ,poor infrastructure and doped athletes instead of showcasing the national spirit and heritage to the world.what is M.S.Gill doing since past 4years when India has won the bid to hot the games?
had our Indian think tank to spend at least 50 percent of the national exchequer loyally to the games, this situation would not have ever comeup. please take lessons from southafrica,china the way they do it.it is better we dont bid any event in future as it will save our country from disgrace.
Now, even PM knows that it is not possible to do everthing. Sonia Gandhi knew about every corruption taking place right frm the begining, but now its time pay the price and the culprits are 1) Mr. Kalmadi (whom every sportsperson hates frm the bottom of heart). 2) Ms. Dixit (careless lady). 3) MOST corrupt Delhi Muncipal personels. 4) Mr. Bhanot (The Rascal). NOW, WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS AFTER GAMES, ALL THESE PEOPLE WILL BE LET FREE TO MANIPULATE THE INDIAN SPORTS. At least, they should learn from Indian Cricket which the world class (not bcoz of Mr. Pawar, AS HE IS THE MOST CORRUPT MAN ON EARTH) but bcoz of Indian cricket legends who made this game a real eye cathcer and ALL THE WORLD IS FOLLOWING INDIAN CRICKET...
We should not highlight the faults.We should apprecaite what have done for the country pride.See how beautiful Delhi is now compared to one year before.
More attention is given on GDP,infrastructer etc. but more attention should be given to hygiene, cleaniness etc.We Indians are dirt, filthy and don't care if there is dirt around us.
Just visit the Banks, kitchens of top class restuarants.govt. buildings etc.Since the day banks opened we don't think the windows had been cleaned.Visit the colonies market. You will be shocked to see the dirt accumulated on stairs and outside shops.If every shop pays five or ten rupees per week they can clean their surrounding
on regular basis. But we are used to live in unhygienic environment.HOW TO TEACH EVERY INDIAN. THAT IS BIG QUESTION.
long live India!
Its too late a reaction. This activism should have been initiated on 14 August. What is the justification of having high profiled Ministers and bureaucrats who can not plan and ensure timely execution. They have failed us when all resources, peace and technology is available. How do we trust them for making wise decisions in the times of crisis. Accountability must be made public.
The damage to Indian credibilty to be able to do accomplish anything of international standard is already done. Just look at what China did to have an Olympics. Prime minister, the sports minister and Delhi Chief minister should resign for their incompetance. All the guilty should be identified and punished with criminal negligence. Laws need to changed to make the punishment an example for future criminals to siphon public money and get away. Any thing less will be an eye wash !
Why the Prime Minister was indifferent so far towards CWG?
Good step teken by PM,They should have taken this endeavor earlier,the entire nation would not have humiliated
Hopefully, the authorities pull up their socks and make this event a good one. All said and done, this is our games!
Sir, At the last, but not the least, I see some respite as the very much reputed PM came into action with his personal reputation on stake being responsible for every good or bad things, though not directly, but ultimately. Thanks Manmohan, being a facesaver after gold mortgage of 1991, till now for the country. Jeeban Mishra Salutes your courage at this age.
hmmm.. "..those found guilty [would] face severe and exemplary punishment." So, a new commitee will be created for this investigation. Soon corruption follows (so that the actual guilty parties are protected) and someone will be made a scapegoat. More money will be spent and nothing will be resolved. when all is said and done, more will be said than done. When the PM (and others) are totally disconnected from the reality, what improvment can we expect? People living in denial are like the fools who cannot be thought. san
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