PM invited me, but I was busy: Suresh Kalmadi

Amidst reports of being snubbed by the government, beleaguered Suresh Kalmadi, chairman of the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee, said on Tuesday that he was invited by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to the felicitation function for CWG medal winners but could not go due to prior commitments.

“Too much is being made out of that. I was busy seeing off the thousands of international athletes who had come for the Games. The chef de mission rang me to tell that we have to attend a function at the PM’s residence but I told him that I cannot go because I was busy,” Kalmadi told CNN-IBN news channel.

“I am not at all a persona non grata. I was seeing off athletes,” said Kalmadi, on a day when Income Tax officials raided 30 locations in Delhi ob charges of misappropriation of funds for the Commonwealth Games.

Kalmadi said that it was good that the probe has started.

“I have not taken any decision on my own. It’s good that a probe has been ordered because the Prime Minister had committed this to the Parliament and the public. We will give all the answers.”

“I am not at all nervous. We have given great Games and we are ready to give the answers now,” he added.

Asked whether the findings of the inquiry would trigger a storm that might blow him away, Kalmadi said, “The storm was much earlier but now that we have delivered a good Games, it’s over.”

Kalmadi again slammed Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, who had raised the finger of suspicion of corruption on Organizing Committee (OC).

“I have kept quiet all along because my interest was to deliver a good Games but that should not be seen as a sign of weakness. Now that the Games are over, I shall speak out. I have already replied to Ms Dikshit that set your own house in order before pointing fingers at us.

“She had a budget of Rs 16,000 crore for construction related work and I had nothing to do with it. My budget was Rs 1,600 crore. I was not part of the construction work. She has to answer a lot for that,” Kalmadi said.

“Everybody criticised me for the foot over-bridge collapse (near the Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium), but that was not my business. The Delhi government and the Public Works Department (PWD) have to answer for that,” he added. “When the Prime Minister has ordered a probe, she (Dikshit) doesn’t have to say anything.”

Kalmadi said despite a negative press worldwide, the country’s Olympic dream is still alive.

“The whole world feels we should hold the Olympics. International Olympic Committee Chairman Jacques Rogge was impressed with the Commonwealth Games and wants India to host the Olympics. But we shall make an announcement only after the cloud over CWG is over.

“We will have to take the government into confidence. We are ready for it and definitely we will bid for the Olympics,” he said.