Fiery Mani Shankar Aiyar now fears that once Commonwealth games are staged, `there may be some demands from some quarters to bid for the Olympic games. That should not happen come what may`.
In an exclusive interview to Anurradha Prasad for her talk show `Aamne-Samne` for News 24 channel, the ex-diplomat turns politician bares it all regarding his basis for strong opposition to Commonwealth games to his present relationship with his own party, Congress.
Announcing his action plan to oppose any move to bring Olympic games to India, Mani Shankar Aiyar said, “I would start my opposition to possible Olympic bid from October 15 itself. I would not mind hosting Olympics games if we prepare ourself as China had prepared before they hosted the Beijing Olympics. If we are sure of leading the medals tally and our flag would fly high, then we host the games.” Though he is little relieved that government has decided not to bid for the Asian games.
Reacting to a question related to Sonia Gandhi`s recent remark that commonwealth games would be staged nicely and it is a matter of honour for the country, little weary and mellowed down too after after his long anti-Commonwealth games campaign, Mani Shankar Aiyar says now somehow the games would be hosted with some patchwork. They (mainly Kalmadi and others) would pat the back of each other. ` It is such a huge lose of money. It would be better if the money spent on games would have been used in naxal affected Dantewada or in Bawana. The poor would be benefited. But they have spent whopping Rs 935 crores on Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.`
Mani completely denies the tag of a whistle-blower to expose the wrong-doing that were taking place in preparations of commonwealth games, said, “I am talking about principles and national priorities. Tell me did Gandhiji would be proud to attend the games? I have never raised the issue of scam. Now even i am surprised that so many skeletons are tumbling down. I never knew about that.”
`Did your concerns regarding the games were not taken in to account by your own party?` While avoiding to answer the question,Mani took us back to year 2003. “ That was May,2003. Suresh Kalmadi met the then Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and discussed Indian bid for the 2010 commonwealth games.
He asked for his (Mr.Vajpayee`s) permission to host the games. He told the PM that as time is running out for submitting the bid document, he should allow that without discussing the issue with his cabinet. Kalmadi told him that only Rs 150 crores would be required for hosting the games. Innocent Mr. Vajpayee okayed that. ”
Mani reveals that during one of the meetings of commonwealth games committee in Montego Bay couple of years ago, Suresh Kalmadi announced that on behalf of Indian Olympic Association(IOA),they would give one million dollars to all the participating nations. “Lalit Bhanot (close aide of Kalmadi) said that was only inducement. It is up to you to decide whether that was a bribe or inducement.”
Replaying to another question, Mani Shankar Aiyar said, it is not true that he was not listened by his government. They listened his contention regarding the games. Group of ministers under the leadership of Arjun Singh gave him enough time. But they were not convinced of his arguments.
When he was asked `did he liked all his portfolios other than sports?, Mani tersely said, “ Minus commonwealth games, I enjoyed even sports ministry. I have done lot of work there. I have nothing against that ministry.”
Even after couple of years of his unceremonious exit from the union cabinet as a sports minister, Mani is still hurt. “I was returning to India after addressing a conference on sports in Auckland,New Zealand. I got standing ovation when I completed my speech which outlined our future road map for sports. When i was in Hong Kong, I got a sms announcing my removal from the cabinet,” he narrated the whole incident with a pinch of salt.
Apart from being hurt for the way he was removed, he was equally hurt that the comprehensive sports policy that he authored could not be placed before the union cabinet.
According to Mani, he authored the comprehensive sports policy despite non-cooperation from IOA. Where is that? “In my laptop,” he reveals. He is hopeful that his masterpiece would be considered by the government post commonwealth games. He also said that when National games was held in Guwahati, he was not even invited by IOA. “They have done to insult me.”
Commonwealth games apart, Mani Shankar Aiyar made it clear that he has never left Congress even for a single day. “Though the level of involvement is very less,” he concludes.
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