Malhotra blames Gill for delays in completion of stadia

President of General Association of National Sports Federations (GANSF) Vijay Kumar Malhotra Wednesday lambasted Union minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Manohar Singh Gill for taking credit for completion of work related to the 2010 Commonwealth Games and for passing the buck for failures.

Malhotra, who is also a vice-president of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), attacked Gill for all his omissions and commissions and self-condemning statements for the delays in the completion of various stadia and other infrastructure facilities.

"We got the Games in 2003. Why did not the government do anything to build the infrastructure and improve the condition of the Yamuna, slums, J.J. colonies and unauthorised colonies. These are the questions the Central and state governments will have to answer," he said.

Malhotra, who is leader of opposition in the Delhi state assembly, has also not spared Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit, holding her responsible for the construction delays and the misuse of public money.

"Dr Gill seems always ready to jump to take all credit but pass the buck to other agencies when uncomfortable questions are raised. He is fast acquiring the reputation of 'rent-a-quote' minister," Malhotra told reporters here Wednesday.

Malhotra said the inordinate delay in the completion of the stadia and other infrastructure has caused irrevocable damage to the entire project.

He said taking advantage of the delays, money is being spent recklessly in sprucing up the city and asking for additional funds for the extravagance.

"The delay has not only caused escalation in the project costs, multiplying the expenditure beyond imagination but has also affected the preparation of the Indian contingent for the Games as it deprived the athletes of taking the home advantage by training at the facilities."

"Stop talking of making Delhi a world-class city and organising the best-ever Games to camouflage for throwing money in the name of beautifying the sidewalks," he said.

He was particularly livid with Gill and Dikshit for their neglect of the Yamuna river and then for shedding crocodile tears over its condition.

Not only the national sports federations but the people of India in general and Delhi in particular have the right to ask what has happened to the river on whose banks the Games Village is being constructed, thus virtually making it a drainage.

Malhotra wants to know where has all the money to clean the river gone.

The tall claims being made by the Delhi chief minister of making Delhi a world class city by spending more than Rs. 30,000 crore would go down the drain when an advisory is issued to all locals and foreigners not to swim or bathe in the great river."

"In this drainage we are going to showcase our national heritage to the visitors to the Games."