Aiyar breaks silence, suggests special committee to oversee Games

NEW DELHI - Breaking his vow of silence over the Commonwealth Games, Rajya Sabha MP Mani Shankar Aiyar Wednesday suggested that a high-level committee be set up to ensure that the mega sporting event is corruption-free and successful.

“A high-level committee to which all the agencies, including the Organising Committee, will be answerable to should be made,” Aiyar told reporters outside parliament.

The Congress leader, who last week remarked that he wished that the Games fail, said that an overseeing committee is necessary to ensure that the event is corruption-free and successful.

“I suggested a committee in 2006 as well, but we still have time,” the former sports minister said. “We have two months left and we can ensure that clean and successful games are held.”

Aiyar said that a similar committee was also made for the Sydney Olympics and also during the Asiad Games in Delhi in 1982.

“In 1982, a Special Organising Committee was set up under the chairmanship of Buta Singh and the cabinet passed a resolution through which all the concerned ministers were empowered to give sanctions,” Aiyar said.

“Then a back-bencher called Rajiv Gandhi, who happened to be the son of the prime minister (Indira Gndhi) was inducted into that Special Organising Committee. He brought along with him a number of young and dynamic people,” he recalled.

Aiyar suggested that the committee may include ministers and officials from various departments responsible for organising the games.

“It will also help in coordination between the organising committee and other agencies,” he said.

Asked if he would suggest taking Rahul Gandhi into the committee, he said: “It is for the government to decide, I don’t know if the government will accept it.”

Asked if he was in favour of Commonwealth Games Organising Committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi resigning in the wake of allegations of corruption, Aiyar said: “I have given a constructive suggestion; I did not say I want Kalmadi removed from the OC.”

Aiyar created ripples last week with his comments wishing that the Games failed, calling the hype around it “sickening” and alleging that the Indian government had “bribed” other Commonwealth nations for hosting the Games.

Shortly after his series of comments, Aiyar vowed to remain silent on the issue till the Commonwealth Games are held.