Embarrassing, say comrades, Priya says it’s Baichung’s basic right

Indian football captain Baichung Bhutia’s decision not to carry the Olympic torch is “purely an expression of his fundamental right and his own decision...

Indian football captain Baichung Bhutia’s decision not to carry the Olympic torch is “purely an expression of his fundamental right and his own decision,” Union Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi, who is also president of the All India Football Federation, said today. This is in sharp contrast to the red faces in the CPM — West Bengal Sports Minister Subhas Chakraborty said “Baichung shouldn’t have done this. It’s embarrassing.”

Reached for his comments in Coimbatore where he is attending the CPM congress — the party has stood by China on the issue of Tibet — Chakraborty said: “Baichung may have said it’s a personal decision. But given his huge stature in India as a superstar, it’s obvious this will be seen as a political move.”

“I want to talk to him about this. I know him well, I will try to tell him that this decision is not right. I will try to convince him that he should not mix sports with politics. I repeat, he shouldn’t have done this,” Chakraborty said.

Two days ago, Baichung, who is from Sikkim, sent a fax to the Indian Olympic Association office in New Delhi, turning down the invitation to participate in the torch relay on April 17. He said he was opting out as a mark of protest over the Chinese crackdown in Tibet — a stand that has embarrassed the CPM whose leaders share a good rapport with him.

Baichung told The Indian Express: “The Dalai Lama is God to me. I am a Buddhist. My ancestors are Tibetans. I am not going to fight with anybody. It is a religions matter and I will stick to my decision of not carrying the Olympic torch.”

“I have a lot of Tibetan fans all over the country. Fans from Dharamsala come down to watch my game whenever I am playing in New Delhi. It is on humanitarian grounds that I have decided to stand by them.”

Mao Siwei, China’s Consul General in Kolkata, said: “The footballer’s decision is very unfortunate. Politics and sports should not be mixed at all. In any case, it is his personal decision and one can do little about it.”

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But Olympian Chuni Goswami stood by Baichung. “He has always been a different human being. I appreciate his decision,” Goswami said.

Indian tennis star Leander Paes and athlete P T Usha, who too have been invited to the torch run, had a different take though.

Usha told The Indian Express: “It’s Baichung’s personal decision. But it’s a great honour for me to run with the Olympic torch. When the government is not officially getting too involved in the issue, then I don’t think I should stay away from the ceremony.”

Paes said “I am proud to be invited. I must respect the Olympics as well as the Indian Olympic Association for inviting me.”