For Kalmadis OC job,PMO note listed precedent,host city pact

A 4-page note was prepared on Dec 3,2004 by then joint secy in PMO,for Manmohan Singhs perusal.

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Incarcerated Congress MP Suresh Kalmadis elevation as the Commonwealth Games CWG Organising Committee chairperson in 2004 had almost become fait accompli,not just because of the language of the Host City Contract signed in 2003 but a series of other factors including precedent set by the 1982 Asiad Games,an internal PMO note accessed by The Indian Express has indicated.

The four-page note was prepared on December 3,2004 by Pulok Chatterji,then joint secretary in the PMO,for Prime Minister Manmohan Singhs perusal. The same day,it was endorsed by Prime Ministers principal secretary T K A Nair,who got it approved by the Prime Minister the next day.

After outlining important reasons,Chatterjis note affirmed that Kalmadi may be made the OC chairperson,but recommended a number of measures to address concerns raised by then sports minister Sunil Dutt. These included setting up a GoM headed by HRD minister Arjun Singh to monitor and oversee preparations,an empowered committee headed by sports minister to look after construction of stadia and other infrastructure and a committee of secretaries headed by the cabinet secretary to implement decisions of the GoM.

Notably,though,in drafting his note,Chatterji rejected the observations of his juniors,section officer K V Pratap,who,in a separate note on November 22,2004,had held the view that Prime Minister may consider approving nomination of Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports as the chairman of the Organising Committee for Commonwealth Games. Prataps note was endorsed by another official,an Officer on Special Duty Rohit Khera,the next day.

Interestingly,the PMO even then was clearly against giving a free hand to Kalmadi. A separate noting by Nair says that the composition of the Organising Committee may be decided by the GoM or the PM taking into account the suggestions of its chairman.

The points that Chatterji raised in his note are:

Bid committee,to initiate bid for CWG,was formed with Kalmadi as president of the IOA,as its chairman.

On award of the Games to IOA,Host City Contract was signed by Kalmadi as president IOA,Lt Governor of Delhi and Secretary in the ministry of sports.

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Under protocol of CGF,IOA is to establish an OC which shall have legal status and which shall work in conjunction with IOA.

During the 1982 Asian Games,the chairman of the OC was formed by the IOA and not the government.

Under protocol of CGF,format of the OC has to be approved by CGF. OC could either be a limited company or a society registered under Societies Registration Act. In 1982,the Special Organising Committee was a non-government registered society.

Then minister for overseas Indian affairs Jagdish Tytlers recorded remarks at the first GoM that since IOA presented initial bid and sponsorship rights were with IOA,their full involvement would be essential.

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IOA general assembly on 1.11.2004 passed unanimous resolution electing Kalmadi as OC chairperson. Among those who voted in his favour were P R Dasmunshi,Jagdish Tytler,K P Singhdeo,Bhubneshwar Kalita,Vidya Stokes,V K Malhotra,Abhay Singh Chautala,Digvijay Singh,S S Dhindsa,B P Baishya and Tarlochan Singh.

Chatterjis note does not attach much significance to the manner in which the original bid document was altered to delete the words government nominee,which the chairperson of the OC was to be. This the amendment appears to have happened in the course of negotiations. The modified bid document was then confirmed by the General Assembly of the CGF, the note says.

On Tuesday,the BJP had alleged in Parliament that the PMO played a key role in ensuring Kalmadis appointment,notwithstanding objections by then sports minister Sunil Dutt.