New Delhi, Sept 24: The Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on Friday gave a severe tongue-lashing to Sports Minister M S Gill and Urban Development Minister S Jaipal Reddy for their clumsiness which has led to the Commonwealth Games mess and has dented India's reputation abroad.
As Gill rose to give a presentation on Commonwealth Games at the meeting presided by the Prime Minister, Dr Singh stopped him saying “now is the time to act and not talk”. A furious Prime Minister told Gill that he should perform his role as Sports Minister.
The Prime Minister also took Urban Development Minister Jaipal Reddy to task for the overbridge collapse and filthy rooms and toilets at the Games Village which was under control of Delhi Development Authority, when Canada and Australia raised the red flags. Dr Singh told the ministers to stop fingerpointing and get to work as “one nation, one government and one Games”, sources privy to the meeting disclosed.
For the record the Minister of State in the PMO Proithviraj Chauhan issued a brief statement saying the Prime Minister has directed all those involved in Commonwealth Games preparations that everything should be done to ensure success of the mega sporting event. .
A day after Singh took stock of the preparedness with union ministers and others involved, Chavan said there was a concern over pull-out threats and hoped that everything would go well.
"With only a few days left, the Prime Minister took personal initiative saying that no stone should be left unturned to see that we successfully conduct the Games," the minister said.
Singh held a meeting with urban development minister Jaipal Reddy, sports minister MS Gill, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, Lt Governor Tejinder Khanna on Thursday to review the preparedness of the Commonwealth Games.However, CWG Organising Committee chief Suresh Kalmadi was kept away from the meeting, triggering speculation about his being sidelined.
Chavan sought to downplay this, saying the Prime Minister had called all the departments of government and "OC does not fall in the category."Asked about the pull-out threats and mishaps at the Games avenues, he said "We are all concerned. It's a very prestigious undertaking for the country."
Meanwhile, Commonwealth Games Federation president Michael Fennell today met Cabinet Secretary K M Chandrashekar to take stock of the preparations.
In an hour-long meeting held at the Cabinet Secretariat, Fennell is understood to have discussed issues relating to concerns of various participating countries over sanitation and other problems in the living quarters at the Games Village and security issues.
Organising committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi was also present in the meeting, along with senior officials of Delhi government and chief secretary Rakesh Mehra here. Delhi police commissioner, YS Dadwal was also present in the meeting.
Earlier, Fennell, accompanied by Kalmadi, Secretary General Randhir Singh and CGF CEO Mike Hooper, took stock of the arrangements at the Games Village, which was dubbed "filthy and uninhabitable" by visiting international delegates a couple of days ago. PTI
