Suresh Kalmadi blasts sports ministry for “illegal” sacking

Sacked Suresh Kalmadi hit back at the sports ministry on Tuesday saying his removal as the chairman of the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee and its executive board was “illegal and arbitrary”.

Suresh Kalmadi, an MP from the ruling Congress party, wrote a strongly worded letter to sports minister Ajay Maken saying he was “shocked” by the manner in which he was sacked on Monday as chairman of the Commonwealth Games organising committee.

“I am shocked to receive an order dated 24 January illegally and arbitrarily removing me from the position of chairman of the organising committee of the Commonwealth Games,” he said.

Kalmadi insisted the sporting extravaganza was a “spectacular” event involving athletes from 71 countries and former British territories.

“I am anguished that instead of being commended for my efforts at putting up such a spectacular show, the organising committee is being unfairly singled out,” said the letter.

Kalmadi said that the organising committee is an autonomous society registered under the Societies Registration Act.

“As the Chairman of the society, I can only be removed in accordance with the constitutional documents of the society,” he said.

The former Chiarman said that he was elected to his post in the OC by the IOA General assembly on November 1, 2004.The IOA is an independent autonomous body and as per the Olympic Charter must remain free from Government interference, he said.

“The Sports Ministry is therefore not legally empowered to remove me,” he said,

“In view thereof, the Order dated 24th January 2011 ought not to have been issued as the same is without any jurisdiction. The Order dated 24th January 2011 has been clearly issued as a kneejerk reaction to the prejudice created by certain sections of the media,” Kalmadi said.

He said instead of being commended for his efforts at putting up such a spectacular show, the OC is being unfairly singled out and that I have been served with a decision of this nature.

“We worked hard to bring the Commonwealth games to India for the first time ever. The OC, under my Chairmanship has worked tirelessly for over 5 years to deliver successful games that India can be proud of.

“Despite the adverse publicity we ensured the participation of all 71 countries. The role of the OC was limited in scope to the conduct of the games, with its budgetary allocation being less than 5 percent of the total expenditure on the Commonwealth games.

“I am proud that we not only conducted and hosted a successful event, but India also delivered a stellar performance and won a record number of medals in the Commonwealth Games.

I would like to say that if I was asked by the Sports Ministry, I would have consulted my colleagues and resigned voluntarily,” he said.

Maken on Monday also removed organising committee secretary general Lalit Bhanot, saying they were sacked “in the interest of impartial and unhindered investigations” into allegations of rampant corruption in the Games.

Kalmadi and Bhanot were asked to hand over charge to Jarnail Singh, the chief executive officer of the organising committee.

The pair has already been grilled by the police in an ongoing probe, but both insist they are innocent and claim all major decisions were taken by the executive board of the organising committee.