Invited but Rahul may not carry Olympic torch

New Delhi: The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has invited Congress MP Rahul Gandhi to carry the Olympic torch during its relay in Delhi on April 17.

IOA President Suresh Kalmadi, who is attending a meeting of the International Olympic Committee’s executive board in Beijing, told CNN-IBN he has written a letter to a “number of young MPs” and would personally invite them to carry the torch when he returns to India.

“Yes, I have written a letter to him (Rahul Gandhi) but I am yet to meet him personally and invite him. I have also invited a number of young MPs, including Jyotiraditya Scindia, Jitin Prasada and Sachin Pilot. I have to yet meet them personally,” said Kalmadi.

“I have been talking to a lot of people here in Beijing. All the (national Olympic) committees of the world are here and they look up to India to revive the spirit of the torch. I have told them that if there is any dissent that can be in a non-violent manner. It’s not a Chinese torch relay but of the International Olympic Committee,” he said.

However, Rahul is yet to confirm the invitation with sources saying that he may decline to take part in the relay.

Sources say the SPG is unlikely to approve Rahul's run at the torch relay looking at the current political scenario. The Congress MP's office has already asked the SPG for a security review.

Congress Spokesperson Jayanti Natarajan, however, denied any knowledge on whether Rahul Gandhi was invited for the Olympic torch relay

"I have absolutely no idea of Rahul Gandhi receiving any invitation. And if any such invitaiton has been given to him, Rahulji will decide how to respond to that invitation," Natarajan said.

Officials also say that Tibetans may not be allowed to enter Delhi in coming days.

Fearing trouble from Tibetan protestors, the IOA has already shortened the route of the Olympic torch relay. The original 8-9 km run from Red Fort to India Gate has been shortened to 2-3 km.

National football captain Bhaichung Bhutia, a Buddhist, has refused to carry the Flame to show his solidarity with the Tibetans.

Cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, former All England champion Pullela Gopichand, long jumper Anju Bobby George, athletes Milkha Singh and Gurbachan Singh Randhawa, shooter Manavjit Singh Sandhu, tennis player Leander Paes and actor Aamir Khan have confirmed they will take part in the Olympic relay.

The Olympic torch is to be carried through San Francisco on Wednesday amid heavy security. The torch relay was disrupted during the London and Paris legs of its journey.

The Associated Press reports the torch's global journey was supposed to highlight China's growing economic and political power.

But activists opposing China's human rights policies and a recent crackdown on Tibet have been protesting along the torch's 13,700-km route since the start of the flame's odyssey from Ancient Olympia in Greece to Beijing, host of the 2008 Summer Olympics.

(For updates you can share with your friends, follow IBNLive on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Pinterest)