Aiyar flays C’wealth Games; Cong virtually snubs him
New Delhi, June 25 (PTI) Senior Congress leader and former union minister Mani Shankar Aiyar has criticised the decision to hold the Commonwealth Games in the country, a view which has come in for flak by the party.
A known opponent of the Commonwealth Games, Aiyar told Headlines Today that he was Sports Minister till 2008 and had wanted the government not to go for the Games as it was an “enormous waste of money”. He said the poor will not have access to India’s biggest sporting event.
Aiyar alleged the way India bagged the Games was nothing less than a bribe and described it as a “tamasha” (drama).
Aiyar maintained that the money spent on the Games could have been better utilised for anti-poverty and welfare programmes.
Congress was quick to virtually snub Aiyar saying the party supports the Commonwealth Games.
“I cannot comment on statements made by individuls.
