New Delhi, July 27
Former Sports Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar today again took on Commonwealth Games Organising Committee Chairman Suresh Kalmadi with a comment that he would be “unhappy” if the October mega event was successful.

Aiyar’s scathing remarks evoked a strong reaction from Kalmadi. Terming the comments by the senior Congress leader “irresponsible” and “anti-national”, Kalmadi declared at a function that “it was good that Aiyar did not continue as Sports Minister”.

The Congress chose to remain aloof amid this very public spat while the BJP, which has also raised questions about preparations and the manner in which funds were being used, said irresponsible statements should not be made on the issue.

Aiyar’s doomsday prophecy on the October 3-14 Games came on a particularly cloudy day with rain showers hitting many parts of the Capital, hindering work being undertaken for the Games. “Those who are patronising the Games can only be evil. They cannot be God,” Aiyar said. “I’m delighted that it's raining because it'll enable agricultural production in India to increase. I'm also delighted that it's raining because this is going to cause difficulty for the Commonwealth Games Federation or whatever you call it… Basically, I will be very unhappy if the Games are successful because then they will start bringing Asian Games, Olympic Games,” he told reporters outside Parliament House.

Kalmadi hit back, saying: “He (Aiyar) is an elected member of the Rajya Sabha and it is totally an anti-national statement from him. It is a totally irresponsible and ridiculous statement.

Aiyar’s statement anti-national: Kalmadi

New Delhi, July 27
Commonwealth Games Organising Committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi today hit back at former Sports Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar for his scathing criticism of the upcoming event, saying the senior Congress leader's comments are "irresponsible" and "anti-national".

"If Aiyar had been sports minister, no stadia would have been ready," Kalmadi, the chairperson of the Commonwealth Games organising committee, said at a function here.

Aiyar today said he would be "unhappy" if the Commonwealth Games were a success and that only "evil" will patronise them.

Reacting to the statement, Kalmadi said, "No individual can spoil the Games. It is totally irresponsible and ridiculous statement from such a senior person, who has also headed the sports ministry earlier. No Indian national can speak like that.

"With the Commonwealth Games fast approaching, he should know his responsibilities and think before making such a statement. He is an elected member of Rajya Sabha and it is totally an anti-national statement from him.

"It was because of his openness that he was removed from the Sport Minister's post. If he would have been the minister, the Commonwealth Games would never have come to India," Kalmadi said.

Earlier in the day, Aiyar criticised the money being spent for the October mega-event and said he would be unhappy if the Games are a success.

"I am delighted in a way because rains are causing difficulties for the Commonwealth Games. Basically, I will be very unhappy, if the Games are successful because then they will start bringing Asian Games, Olympic Games and all these," he had told reporters outside Parliament House. — PTI