THE CHIEF organiser of the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi vigorously defended himself yesterday against allegations of corruption surrounding the troubled event and lashed out at his critics.
Suresh Kalmadi, chairman of the Delhi 2010 organising committee, fought back as a government probe began into construction costs, payments to contractors, equipment leases and other alleged financial irregularities.
In an angry statement to the press, he accused Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit of stealing credit for sorting out major problems that threatened the Games and her own departments of being corrupt.
Kalmadi took the brunt of international criticism during the run-up to the Games, which were afterwards hailed as a success despite chaotic preparations, a last-minute dash to finish facilities and a ballooning budget.
He said Dikshit’s comments on Saturday (October 16) that there were suspicions of corruption involving the organising committee were “most disappointing and uncalled for”.
“It is not right to deflect and point fingers at others when she must indulge in self-reflection on corruption in her own departments,” he said.
Kalmadi, a political veteran from the same ruling Congress party as Dikshit, was booed at the opening and closing ceremonies after becoming the public face of the Games’ difficulties.
The event was hit by uncompleted athletes’ accommodation, shabbily constructed venues and a series of organisational glitches ranging from poor ticket sales to delayed sports results.
Kalamadi said he kept his silence during the Games because national pride was at stake but now, he said, “I owe it to the organising committee that we speak out. We don’t want to be the scapegoats any more.”
“Dikshit’s attempt to take credit for getting the Games Village ready in time does not fit with the team concept,” he said after an army of workers was drafted in to sort out complaints of uninhabitable, dirty apartments.
Kalmadi stressed that the final verdict on the Games had been positive from athletes, the international media and the Commonwealth Games Federation.
“I am proud that the world has declared that conduct of the Games was faultless, with all competitions being held as per schedule,” he said.
Kalmadi said Delhi authorities were responsible for building the venues but the organising committee had absorbed much of the blame and had kept the Games on track as national teams considered pulling out over health and safety fears.
In one of the worst incidents, a large new bridge fell down and injured scores of labourers.
“When the foot overbridge near the (main) stadium collapsed, it led to doubts about the safety of the people. Reports of delays in getting the city ready also caused many teams to believe that Games could not be held,” Kalmadi said.
“We had to do a lot of hand-holding and cajoling to ensure that the full complement of 71 nations and territories took part.
“Despite a series of attacks in the run-up to the Games, I was quiet as I wanted the Games to succeed. Keeping quiet should not be interpreted as a sign of weakness. Nor should patience be seen as a sign of guilt,” he added.
The Mail Today printed details yesterday of tenders that were far above the estimated cost of renovating stadiums for the Games.
According to figures that the newspaper said it obtained under Right to Information laws, $20m (£12.58m) was needed to update the main hockey stadium – but a tender was awarded for $33m (£20.75m).
A panel of investigators headed by a former chief of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) will submit its report into the corruption allegations to Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh by January.
