Axed Goel lashes back: Games panel chief autocratic

A day after Commonwealth Games organising committee (OC) chairman Suresh Kalmadi announced committee member Vijay Goel’s expulsion for indiscipline, the BJP leader on Tuesday claimed he will meet the Prime Minister to request him to “discipline” the Games chief.

Former Union Sports Minister Goel said he will lead a delegation of Citizen’s Forum (formed by him recently to question the preparedness for the Commonwealth Games) to meet Manmohan Singh. “I will request the Prime Minister to demand a white paper on Games expenses and also ask him to discipline Kalmadi, not for my sake but for the Games. I have been asking the OC about the preparedness for the Games and why the cost has been escalating and was expelled as a result,” Goel said.

Goel, who called a press conference today, said that Kalmadi had an “autocratic and arrogant style of working” and one who could not take criticism in the right spirit.

“In the name of organising the Games, Kalmadi is engaging in corruption, there is no accountability as how the money is spent. The budget has quadrupled in the last few years and there is no transparency,” Goel said.

Giving statistics Goel said the Games budget had gone up from Rs 797 crore to Rs 1,620 crore as most projects were being completed at the last minute. “The Games were given to India on November 13, 2003 and in 2005 the OC was constituted but construction of stadiums was started in 2007-08. Most contractors are now asking exorbitant rates to complete the projects in haste.”

Asked if he would challenge his expulsion, Goel said, “My aim is not to fight with him. To be frank, I am not interested in getting into the issue of my expulsion and moreover the OC was registered as a society so there must be a set procedure.”

The BJP leader also said because of delay in developing the infrastructure, Indian athletes have lost their home advantage.

“Usually the host country gets the advantage of the home turf where the athletes can practise. But due to lack of preparation and incomplete stadiums, sportspersons have to practise at smaller stadiums and turfs which will not help them to compete at an international level.”