Common Wealth Games: Controversy Simmers in India against Corruption
It seems that the greatest sporting extravaganza of the year is set to be marred by a plethora of controversies, as the Indian sport administrators struggle to cope with the enormous challenge that has come with the chance of hosting the common wealth games for the first time in their sporting history.
The opposition parties in the Indian government set up have come out all guns blazing in their protests about the organization of the games, and allegations of corruption and nepotism that they feel will tarnish the image of the Games and subsequently the country.
Some of the members of Yuva Morcha (youth wing) main opposition parties of the Bharatiya Janata Party came out on the streets of Kanpur city, in the northerly state of Uttar Pradesh today in the morning. They claim this as an effort of cleansing the system and organization of corruption that is taking place during the preparations for the Commonwealth Games.
"Today, workers of Bharatiya Janata party's Yuva Morcha (youth wing) have gathered here in a large number to protest the corruption taking place in Commonwealth Games that are to be held in Delhi. We have come to know about many corrupt activities being done by the government and this demonstration is to flush the truth out," said a representative of the youth wing of the famed opposition body.
The protestors have levelled serious allegations against the government and specifically against the sport ministry.
According to them, millions have gone unaccounted for in the preparations for the Games, as certain items like umbrellas are rented at Rs 6,308 per, besides C.F.L. tubes at Rs 4,000 per day.
The electricity at various venues is also being purchased at much more than the normal price, the cost for the organizers is Rs 80 per unit.
The Protestors sounded a big threat to the government, claiming that if the federal government does not put an end to the corruption, the members of the BJP would ensure that the Games do not take place.
It remains to be seen as to how the international sporting bodies respond to these threats, and above all the allegations of corruption.
So far, some of them including the Australian sporting authorities have voiced their concerns over the state of security at the venues; they also claim that corruption has been rampant through out the last few months, as efforts are doubled with the Games approaching fast.
The members of the opposition parties are adamant that they are not going to compromise on corruption, and will ensure that the culprits pay for their deliberate mishandling of funds allocated for the event.
"If this corruption is not put an end, then we will go to Delhi and we will not let the Commonwealth Games happen and we will also not spare the Congress-led government," said Mukesh, General Secretary of BJP's Yuva Morcha.
The sporting extravaganza will be staged from the 3rd to 14th October in the capital city New Delhi; the 12 day event would be a highlight in Indian sporting history that last staged the Asian Games way back in 1982.
Some ten thousand athletes are going to be lodged in New Delhi, and for that purpose, hostels and hotels across the city have been upgraded to international standards.
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