It is surprising to see that while there is less than 100 days now left for the Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi, there are still some people asking as to why we are organising the Commonwealth Games in India! Two leaders are consistently giving statements in the media that Commonwealth Games should not been done in India, and that it is a waste of money. The question is whether it is right to put these questions at this stage. Now there is no point debating this.

Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi has to take place, and we have to make it a success. This is an international event - the whole world is keeping an eye on it. The whole country should put all its might together and ensure the success of the Commonwealth Games.

These two leaders have worked as ministers in the Indian cabinet. When this question was raised about the organising of the Commonwealth Games, both these leaders were in position to take decisions. In those times, these Cabinet ministers did not take steps to stop the organising of the Commonwealth Games in India. Now these controversies, when we are nearing the Commonwealth Games, have no meaning. One of these two leaders was an important minister in the Vajpayee government, who gave permission for the proposal of organising the Commonwealth Games. The other leader was a minister in the UPA government, who took forward this proposal, and gathered funds for the organising of the Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi.

Now when these two leaders are raising questions on the organising of the Commonwealth Games, it is a funny sight. In my opinion, all political parties, leaders, and citizens of the country, should take example from other nations, and successfully organise the Commonwealth Games. People would remember that in order to make the Asian Games successful, the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and her son Rajiv Gandhi had put their entire might to make the Games successful, and it was made a subject of pride to be showcased to the world. The fruits of Indira Gandhi’s labour is still visible. There is no doubt that we are behind schedule in completion of work. A number of obstacles were created which have delayed work. Now only three months are left, in which the last month should not be counted. We have only 60 days to complete the work, and monsoons have started as well during this time. With these kind of statements coming in the media, work would be delayed more.

The Queen’s Baton has arrived in India after travelling the world. This signifies that organising of the Commonwealth Games is in its final stage. Now we should work night and day and present a show to the world, which does India proud, and foreign tourists give it a thumbs up. With personal attacks on each other, the nation will suffer. The nation’s pride and honour is the most important; than personal agendas. We should take examples from countries like China, South Africa, and Spain. Today South Africa is successfully organising the FIFA World Cup, in which the whole world is participating, and appreciating the work. In similar way, when China successfully organized the Olympics, the whole world witnessed it in awe. One of the industrialists in India told me that steel industry in India had collapsed, with no signs of recovery. With the Olympics in China, steel industry in India recovered, and the whole Indian economy was impacted positively, with these steel companies till making profits.

The Olympic area in Barcelona is still very beautiful, and the government is utilizing it in a positive way. It was an opportunity for Spain to make its name around the world, which they successfully did. There is huge revenue being generated there by arrival of tourists. In similar way, even a small country like South Korea has established an example, by successfully organising the FIFA World Cup. The meaning is that organising of the Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi should not be considered as waste of money. This money will not go outside the country. This money is distributed in the country itself. Thousands of people get employment, especially the labourers.

A number of companies get business opportunities, and thousands of tourists, which gives a boost to tourism in the country. Besides this, the development work undertaken, will be there in the country forever, and we can always utilize these facilities. Indian cannot even imagine the kind of money China spent in organising the Olympics.

Had the socialist and communist China thought that organising Olympics is waste of money, they would not have been able to organize the Olympics in such a magnanimous way. When there is so much debate taking place over organising the Commonwealth Games of just 70 countries, who will dare to bring Olympics to India? The ICC Cricket world cup is being organized by three countries – India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, in which only 14 countries will participate. It does not make sense to criticize organising of such events. Such events always bring profits to the country, not loss. We have been spending thousands of crores on such organising for the last 50 years; its benefits is not reaching the common people. If we spend judicious time on implementing these projects, we will be able to save a lot of money, instead of wasting time in criticizing the Commonwealth Games. Yes, we must ensure that the government fund is utilized in proper way. Every penny is spent judiciously, there is no corruption.

Rajiv Shukla
Rajya Sabha MP, Congress