CM dismisses Aiyar's remarks; wants people to be proud of CWG

Reacting to Party leader Mani Shankar Aiyar calling Commonwealth Games an ''enormous waste of money'', Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit here today said she wanted people to be proud of the Games.

Mr Aiyar had reportedly said that he was Sports Minister till 2008 and had wanted the government not to go for the Games as it was an ''enormous waste of money'' and termed the way India had bagged the Games as ''tamasha''.

''The state of people living in the colonies right opposite the Games site (on the banks of Yamuna in India) will remain the same,'' the Former Union Minister had said.

Reacting to the comment, Ms Dikshit said, ''there is all round development in Delhi. It is not restricted to any area.'' Citing an example, she said, ''Metro is going to areas like Seelampur. It is not correct to say that development is taking place only in few areas.'' Mr Aiyar had also said, ''The government does not have enough money for social development programmes but has sanctioned Rs 7,000 crore for hosting the Commonwealth Games just to improve Indias image internationally.'' Talking to mediapersons on the sidelines of the inauguration of a waste management plant of Jindal Ecopolis here, Ms Dikshit said, ''CWG are only 100 days away. I would like people to be proud of the Games.''