I am still the boss of Commonwealth Games: Kalmadi

Asked specifically whether he was still the boss of the Commonwealth Games after the government set up an empowered committee of bureaucrats,Kalmadi said,”Yes. Organising the Games is my responsibility. I am continuing with it.”

“The Group of Ministers was there. The committee of secretaries under the Cabinet Secretary was always there. The Prime Minister had a meeting and he has asked all these committees to get more active and give more support. I am getting more support from the government and I am the OC chairman,” Kalmadi said.

“CGF chief Michael Fennell had also come down and he has given a good report. I welcome all this,” he said.

The build-up to the October 3-14 Games has been marred by a series of corruption scandals and construction delays but Kalmadi said things were now under control and his team was capable of delivering a “good and transparent” Games.

“I don’t know why all these campaigns started. Everything was smooth till the last 15 days or so. All foreign countries are saying these will be good Games. I am ready to face any inquiry after the Games,” he said.

“Our reputation is at stake and after all these years of hard work I don’t want to go down in this way. That is why I want this inquiry,” Kalmadi said.

Asked whether the thought of resignation had crossed his mind in the wake of these allegations,he said,”No. This is a challenge I have taken up. I had promised the CGF when we won the bid that I will deliver. There is no question of resigning.”

Kalmadi admitted he had a tough time in lifting the morale of his team after the alleged corruption scandals came out in the media.

“It was not so much a distraction for me but it was so for my staff. I have to keep up the morale of my staff. I had a tough time doing that,” he said.

“I have to see that the morale of my staff is okay. I have to see that this does not happen again. I have to put them on track. I have talked to them them and told them to go ahead without worry,” he added.

He added: “The PM has supported us to a great extent. We are focused now. I will be fully focused for the next one month.”

Asked if too much work was left for the last minute,considering the bid was won in 2003,Kalmadi said,”You have to get certificates to start work. You have to go to the MCD,the NDMC and various other agencies. Then there were environment issues and somebody went to court. All these processes took time. Everything is under control on infrastructure. For overlays,we have less time. We are racing against time in overlays but we will do it.”

On whether India’s future bids for mega events like Olympics and Asian Games would be affected in the light of these controversies,Kalmadi said: “It is normal for every Games to have some charges or the other”.

He added: “When we bid there is euphoria. There is disenchantment when reality sets in. Then there is search for the guilty.

It is the pattern with every Games. Then there is persecution of the innocent and finally there is the successful Games and glorification of the uninvolved. This is the pattern everywhere.”