Commonwealth Games-New Delhi 2010

Varoon Shekhar · Post by **Varoon Shekhar** » 29 Sep 2010 21:28

"However, the comments of the average joe on the street is totally negative."

Abstract thinking and understanding the nuances of India, are something quite beyond the average Canadian Joe in the street!

Chinmayanand · Post by **Chinmayanand** » 29 Sep 2010 21:34

Supreme Court on CWG: Rs. 70,000 crore

and rampant corruption

New Delhi: The audacious corruption cultivated by the Commonwealth Games has irked the Supreme Court. In particular, the court is livid about the pedestrian bridge that collapsed near the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium earlier this month, just days after it was completed.

"In this country, payments are made without work being done. Newly constructed bridge collapsed like a pack of cards. 70,000 crores are involved. There is rampant corruption in the country. We cannot shut our eyes. Till October 15, Common wealth is a public purpose - thereafter, everything will become private purpose," observed the court.

The comments came during a case that establishes that the government has violated laws aimed at preserving the historic Jantar Mantar monument in the capital. A part of the building of the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) on Parliament Street falls within 100 metres of the monument.

The construction has been objected to by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) which has also pointed out that other buildings have been allowed to come up far too close to Jantar Mantar.

Slamming the NDMC, the Supreme Court thundered, " How mindless and lawless are you? No regard for history, no regard for constitution. There is a totally unethical government with no moral values. Money is the only thing that matters. Why don't you convert Jantar Mantar into a hotel or a mall and India will shine?"

Suraj · Post by **Suraj** » 29 Sep 2010 22:53

Yes. Rs.70000 crores worth of corruption is certainly a lot. We must get rid of all the shoddy stuff created out of it. Let's start by knocking down Delhi Metro, New Delhi airport T3, dozens of interchanges and overpasses around Delhi, many kms of roads and freeways. After all, New Delhi doesn't need any of it.

Suraj · Post by **Suraj** » 29 Sep 2010 23:04

vina: You now have multiple post reports against your name on different threads in TEF due to your constant Rahul Mehta-esque tirade against Delhi, from posters who as far as I know have no particular ties to that city.

We all know you hate the alleged favoritism towards Delhi. It was amusing a long time ago. But now it is just grating, and has gone so far as to rub even non-Delhites the wrong way due to the constant bashing, with some going so far as to complain that your trolling perpetuates a north-south divide. Please desist. The next one will earn you a warning.

munna · Post by **munna** » 29 Sep 2010 23:17

Suraj wrote:Yes. Rs.70000 crores worth of corruption is certainly a lot. We must get rid of all the shoddy stuff created out of it. Let's start by knocking down Delhi Metro, New Delhi airport T3, dozens of interchanges and overpasses around Delhi, many kms of roads and freeways. After all, New Delhi doesn't need any of it.

Well, Suraj we need this infrastructure and much more. There are leaders and technocrats in India who have achieved stupendous feats of nation building and continue to do so yet they are ignored under a very uppity attitude of false moralism/progressivism. Development and good governance knows no colour, being unduly biased and intellectually bankrupt in not acknowledging such instances will lead to the kind of malevolence towards an apparent issue of national prestige (we are witnessing now).
The honest fact is that there are people who delivered quality infrastructure to India without this naked loot of resources and a lot amongst us just won't acknowledge it. In absence of honesty from one side the other side will also play dirty. An eye for an eye will make the world blind kind of logic won't work for the other side ain't Gandhian. The nation needs consensus and mud slinging will lead to more fiascos like this. Bitter but true.

Suraj · Post by **Suraj** » 29 Sep 2010 23:23

munna: my point is that the oft-repeated "Rs.70000 crore CWG corruption scandal" is a lot of nonsense, for the simple reason that the figure is a rhetorical strawman meant for shock value - most of that went into building much-needed infrastructure in Delhi. The CWG served as nothing more than an impetus build it all quickly.

If one wants to make a coherent argument about corruption, add up the net costs (e.g. cost of games village - earnings from post games sales) of the CWG facilities, find out how much of that was siphoned, and then make a case against the culprits.

chetak · Post by **chetak** » 29 Sep 2010 23:26

More nepotism??

Kalmadi brings in relatives.

CWG Security staff deploy langurs

mnag · Post by **mnag** » 29 Sep 2010 23:31

Suraj wrote:Yes. Rs.70000 crores worth of corruption is certainly a lot. We must get rid of all the shoddy stuff created out of it. Let's start by knocking down Delhi Metro, New Delhi airport T3, dozens of interchanges and overpasses around Delhi, many kms of roads and freeways. After all, New Delhi doesn't need any of it.

if i read it right, supreme court is angry with the collapsed bridge and is not hinting at demolishing the other stuff you mentioned. all we want is someone to fight the corruption. what is wrong if Supreme court does it for us? yes CWG did benefit Delhi and no one is argunig against it. its the corruption that people are angry about

munna · Post by **munna** » 29 Sep 2010 23:34

Suraj wrote:munna: my point is that the oft-repeated "Rs.70000 crore CWG corruption scandal" is a lot of nonsense, for the simple reason that the figure is a rhetorical strawman meant for shock value - most of that went into building much-needed infrastructure in Delhi. The CWG served as nothing more than an impetus build it all quickly.

If one wants to make a coherent argument about corruption, add up the net costs (e.g. cost of games village - earnings from post games sales) of the CWG facilities, find out how much of that was siphoned, and then make a case against the culprits.

A very sensible point and this is how any public discourse worth its name should be conducted. The issue that we face currently is that the government and the media have conspired to dumb down the way in which public debates are conducted. Anybody using good keywords like "social justice", "corruption", "aam aadmi" or "evil communalists" automatically wins the argument without any serious debate or logical reasoning. To prove my point all I have to do is to blame all and sundry till the kingdom comes and presto everyone from santri to mantri becomes a devil in man's disguise. Whereas in other cases such as now "intellectuals" want people to look the other way!!
The intellectual hypocrisy has inadvertently backfired and I am glad people are now looking beyond it. We are a serious nation of intelligent people and we deserve better public discourse. All the best India for the games

SwamyG · Post by **SwamyG** » 30 Sep 2010 00:19

Slamming the NDMC, the Supreme Court thundered, " How mindless and lawless are you? No regard for history, no regard for constitution. There is a totally unethical government with no moral values. Money is the only thing that matters. Why don't you convert Jantar Mantar into a hotel or a mall and India will shine?"

Now now, can the SC stop giving ideas.

Bade · Post by **Bade** » 30 Sep 2010 00:52

With all strategy and costing experts can someone breakdown the 70,000 crores into its parts. That would be a place to begin. Then let us see the deficit as money swindled.

No but we had gungadin arguments ad-nauseam instead for political reasons alone, with corruption being the bogey. Seems like one CM's bet on cleaning up operations was proven false in time, if one were to believe the other CM's word.

Cosmo_R · Post by **Cosmo_R** » 30 Sep 2010 01:15

chetak wrote:More nepotism??

Kalmadi brings in relatives.

CWG Security staff deploy langurs

Not Kalmadi hangers on. These are being paid peanuts.

munna · Post by **munna** » 30 Sep 2010 01:16

Bade wrote:No but we had gungadin arguments ad-nauseam instead for political reasons alone, with corruption being the bogey. Seems like one CM's bet on cleaning up operations was proven false in time, if one were to believe the other CM's word.

The moment we realize that everything is done and takes place for a political motive in a democracy the easier it will be for all Indians to deal with nation's issues.
Keep no holy cows when it comes to public discourse. Corruption is corruption and since the self righteous activists are alleging this , we need no facts or figures. Mere allegations and insinuations are enough for aam junta a la certain apolitical speech on a certain variety of terror by respected HM-ji. Since the precedents of harming the nation by repeated self goals for petty political reasons are well set why this takleef?? Or is it that a certain kind of self righetousness is of better kind?

Bade · Post by **Bade** » 30 Sep 2010 01:31

^^^ Did not understand the last statement/query. You mean to say apolitical citizens do not count ?

Maybe, cause one has to vote and if you do not then you get no say in matters that count. And if you do cast your ballot then you are colored one way or another.

Very tricky indeed.

munna · Post by **munna** » 30 Sep 2010 01:45

Bade wrote:^^^ Did not understand the last statement/query. You mean to say apolitical citizens do not count ? Maybe, cause one has to vote and if you do not then you get no say in matters that count. And if you do cast your ballot then you are colored one way or another. Very tricky indeed.

Well apolitical citizens are tough to find in true sense because it is like Nirvana. Many claim to have attained it but it is hard to verify. The point that I tried to make was that till about 2004-05 there was political consensus within our establishment to never discuss internal issues or engagae foreign interests regarding domestic matters of India (barring rare exception or two). However that consensus lies in shambles now due to machinations of certain over zealous political actors for whom short term political power is of more interest than long term national interests.

Since that consensus lies in shambles and certain political groupings find themselves under constant attacks by joint domestic and foreign interests, what is the incentive for them to preserve their end of deal? Patriotism? I guess inviting brick bats by cooking up varieties of security threats adds to our national prestige? Mr Raman laments that nobody in US, Nippon or Ausland takes us seriously any more, well who would when you are willing to slight your own compatriots to please award committees for peace prizes. Irrational ranting and self righteous indignation has come to replace logical debate and some of the posters got an example of the medicine being administered to a large population of India. Bitter but true.

Next time people desire rational debates, please show the same towards your opponents.

Bade · Post by **Bade** » 30 Sep 2010 02:18

OK agree with all you said above. But if two sides are debating an issue with colored views, it does leave spectators who do not want any part in it less than amused. All national interest issues are not always political or to be solved via political means. When something gets hijacked for political reasons alone, some who were quiet earlier might start voicing their opinions. I don't know how else to put it. I personally have no issues with colored discussions and remaining a mere spectator to it. In fact that is what I do most of the time. Pretty sure there are many like that even here.

ps: Getting OT here, back to CWG !

Kanishka · Post by **Kanishka** » 30 Sep 2010 04:35

Fidel Guevara wrote:
Kanishka wrote:I am no fan of any of our politicians.
However, there is no doubt in my mind that Sky News (UK, Australia and NZ) has gone out of the way to humilate India over CWG.
Living in Canada, I am glad that the Canadian press is not trying to humiliate India. A few negative articles recycled from the UK/Oz/NZ press, but no Canadian reporter has gone out of their way to get an "exclusive scoop" photo.

However, the comments of the average joe on the street is totally negative.

Similar to the response to the Pak floods - the official govt position and media editorials are asking for one thing, but the public sentiment is totally opposite.

The problem is that the Western media shapes the thought process of the average "joe"
With this amount of biased reporting the sentiments of the western public is bound to be negative.
What is disturbing is the role played by some Indians in the media and politics to join hands with these goras to malign India for their own hidden agendas.

I understand the Australians are keen to host the next CWG in the Gold Coast region.
There was also a report in the Indian Express about the bogus sting operation by Channel7:

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Rival ... ity/689908

SaiK · Post by **SaiK** » 30 Sep 2010 05:30

Well.. the SC of India has advisory jurisdiction. The problem is that it may reject a constitution amendment but cannot prevent a corruption happen by plugging all loop holes with transparent execution of all government transactions.

I am concerned how many legal entities have a big hand in the scam stakes here, and in that they get totally muddled that only Indians allow such things to happen so glaring and candid and still continue to run office, and have the audacity to counter all negative projections, plus divert and confuse majority democratic citizens who are normally gullible and illiterate to understand their operations.

Clarity will be soon lost and I am sure all benami transactions would have already incinerated. Even the CBI may have their men supporting kalmadi & co. I can't understand why people would not even suspect even the best mr. clean any one can think off. This is total shame ownership of our democratic institutions and people.

$80 toilet roll papers to 5 crore India bulaaliya song by AR Rahman. Man! we desis have tremendous tolerance value to corruption, higher than any highest value of virtue. Still, Bhanots and Dikshits will fly to heaven by higher laws of their karmic values. Their definitions of hygiene and corruption values are different from others.

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 30 Sep 2010 05:56

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cwga ... 654538.cms

NEW DELHI: The spirit of the Games doesn't seem to be prevailing. Seen to be an essential ingredient of the Games, volunteers have gone missing. An estimated 10,000 volunteers have dropped out after enrolling for the mega sports show.

The volunteers have displayed less than expected zest for the Games due to what is seen as a combination of reasons ranging from random allocation of responsibilities, relatively unglamorous assignments and poor training and motivation.

A part of the problem also seems to have been the terms offered to volunteers. Instead of payments, the experience of participating in the Games with a certificate at the end of the event are the main rewards. However, there is also a smart set of clothes - the kit costs Rs 12,000 - besides meals while at work.

While these terms are the norm at most such events, the thrill and experience of the job and an opportunity to watch top athletes being the big hook, the attrition rate of volunteers has been rather high. Beset with controversies, the Games have perhaps not proved too attractive for many who signed up.

Sources said the missing volunteers have gone away with their uniforms that might have been what they found to be of interest. Perhaps, they should have been paid a daily allowance at least. Some of the work is quite tough and requires good communication skills, said an official who confirmed mass desertions.

The situation has led to private parties having to step up their participation. "We are doing all that has been asked of us," said Abhijit Sarkar, spokesperson of Sahara group. Many of the volunteers at the airport and Village are from the group.

It is being hoped that the volunteers will return as those who did turn up at the Village have made a good impression on athletes who have moved in. It is also possible that the volunteers could not be immune from the overall ineptness that has marked the functioning of the OC. There is concern over how the logistics of the events will be affected by the lack of volunteers though some feel there is enough human resource.

The volunteers were part of the effort to make the Games a participatory event and with nearly half of the total 22,000 going AWOL, it is quite a hole to fill. Complaints of missing volunteers have been pouring in at the airport and important centres, even though an official associated with the volunteer programme claimed that all of them turned up at the Village.

Volunteers have been given two pairs of vibrant uniforms, free Metro passes from home to venues and packaged food. These volunteers have been trained by Amity University. It is also being wondered how the catering contracts will be honoured as the caterers would be making a certain number of food packets every day.

vera_k · Post by **vera_k** » 30 Sep 2010 07:15

Surfers prefer Queen Elizabeth over President Patil to open Games

Opinions

The poll was misleading because neither Rahulji nor Soniaji were among the choices. Either of these would beat the other choices hands down.

Gus · Post by **Gus** » 30 Sep 2010 21:05

wonderful..

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaki ... 5932566279
THE chief medical officer for the crisis-stricken Delhi Commonwealth Games has been struck down with a suspected case of typhoid.

chetak · Post by **chetak** » 30 Sep 2010 21:51

Gus wrote:wonderful..

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaki ... 5932566279
THE chief medical officer for the crisis-stricken Delhi Commonwealth Games has been struck down with a suspected case of typhoid.

The Army Medical Corps is always there.

Bade · Post by **Bade** » 30 Sep 2010 22:35

Kalmadi already increasing the drum-roll for Olympic bid.

I want metro in top 20 cities of India and inter city super fast trains and expressways before any such events are planned for, not to mention an increasing tally of golds in future events from Indian participants.

chetak · Post by **chetak** » 30 Sep 2010 23:04

Bade wrote:Kalmadi already increasing the drum-roll for Olympic bid.

Let's have it in dilli again with kalmadi as the boss.

The international scene could surely use some pepping up again.

By then more western countries will already be in the toilet and they can roast us really good.

BTW, what's left of kalmadi's beard will still miraculously remain jet black.

Bade · Post by **Bade** » 01 Oct 2010 02:17

chetak wrote: Let's have it in dilli again with kalmadi as the boss.

Nah, let's have it in the Southern capital of Bangalore, oops Bengaluru.

hnair · Post by **hnair** » 01 Oct 2010 05:54

Gosh, BeeBtube is relentless. Article seems ghost-written by a RAPE

Prostitution fears over Commonwealth Games

Women from India's north-east are thought to be particularly in demand as escorts and prostitutes because they have a fairer complexion and are generally fluent in English.

Over the years, their presence has grown sharply in the country's hospitality industry. Many are also employed in call centres and offices.

The North-east Support Centre and Helpline, a Delhi-based NGO, said girls from the north-east were regularly recruited to operate stalls at international trade fairs and other events in the capital.

"Some of the fresh recruitment could be for legitimate Games event, but some may be for escort services," Madhu Chander of the Helpline told the BBC.

"We are extremely concerned at reports that many north-east girls [have been] lured by dubious placement agencies for the Games. We fear they may fall into wrong hands," he added.

BBC has in one article,
1) stereotyped an intelligent and confident woman from North East as fit only for being a prostitute. "are thought to be particularly in demand"? Thought by who, BBC?

2) Trashed India's hospitality industry by snidely inserting motives for the laudable equal opportunity policies they are following. The industry has grown and so did the number of serious employees from ALL states. Plus, IIRC, there are quite a few Tibetans who are in the hospitality industry and are prominent managers in some hotel chains
3) Made this Madhu Chander trash the upsurge in demand of hospitality employees. He does not have statistics on the things he alleges, but says "some may be for escort services". "May be"? What if someone talks this flippantly about that person's own family members?

Kerala Police has a contingent that is patrolling Delhi streets. Wonder what BBC will allege? They are lured with incentives of 100$/paki terrorist?

Kanishka · Post by **Kanishka** » 01 Oct 2010 06:32

hnair wrote:Gosh, BeeBtube is relentless. Article seems ghost-written by a RAPE

Prostitution fears over Commonwealth Games

Call them racists (which they are) and kick them out. By them I mean all Anglo media including Pom, Aussie and Kiwi.
Personally I have had enough of this trash being dished out daily in UK, Australia and NZ.

TonyMontana · Post by **TonyMontana** » 01 Oct 2010 06:34

hnair wrote:Gosh, BeeBtube is relentless. Article seems ghost-written by a RAPE

Prostitution fears over Commonwealth Games

Are they serious?!

archan · Post by **archan** » 01 Oct 2010 08:19

Didn't you guys know that there is absolutely no prostitution in UK? zero, nada, nil. It is a very very moral society.

archan · Post by **archan** » 01 Oct 2010 08:20

Kanishka wrote:
hnair wrote:Gosh, BeeBtube is relentless. Article seems ghost-written by a RAPE

Prostitution fears over Commonwealth Games

Call them racists (which they are) and kick them out. By them I mean all Anglo media including Pom, Aussie and Kiwi.
Personally I have had enough of this trash being dished out daily in UK, Australia and NZ.

One way to see it is the taqleef Bharat has been causing these "saahib" nations lately. Enjoy it.

Bade · Post by **Bade** » 01 Oct 2010 09:09

Early this week right out of the blue in a closed early meeting as part of warming up chit-chat the big boss made remarks on CWG in Delhi saying something like India seem to have a lot of catching up to do with China etc and what I thought about it. Did not expect that from the guy, as in general people of western extraction in his age group are more gung-ho about China and rarely converse about India.

When pressed for I opined how this was the worst time to hold it with the trailing monsoon etc. Then the topic moved to corruption and $80 toilet rolls by another Asian member of the group. The reply to that from me in jest was that it was to keep all the guests happy and pretty soon interest in the topic waned immediately.

svinayak · Post by **svinayak** » 01 Oct 2010 09:39

Bade wrote:Early this week right out of the blue in a closed early meeting as part of warming up chit-chat the big boss made remarks on CWG in Delhi saying something like India seem to have a lot of catching up to do with China etc and what I thought about it. Did not expect that from the guy, as in general people of western extraction in his age group are more gung-ho about China and rarely converse about India.

Need to talk about Tibet and freedom and how China has lot to catch up with India.
During 1998 test similar questions were asked about India. Reply was that India is doing what it was supposed to do 40 years ago.

amit · Post by **amit** » 01 Oct 2010 10:03

CWG a humiliation for India, says Rushdie

NEW DELHI: Acclaimed writer Salman Rushdie has ridiculed the Commonwealth Games as a "great humiliation" for India and suggested that OC secretary general Lalit Bhanot be "severely spanked" for his much-criticised comments on hygiene standards.

Personally I would have liked a lynching like Najibullah. However, I'd settle for a over-the-knees spanking delivered by a fat dhoti-clad, pan chewing chowkidar who was a "kustigir" (wrestler) in his earlier days.

Kanishka · Post by **Kanishka** » 01 Oct 2010 12:12

The latest joke going around is that Kalmadi has had a change of heart and instead of wanting to be hanged
has decided not to hang around and has left India with all the gold medals, one for each of his family members and cronies, them being the real winners in this game.

On a more serious note : Indian politicians have very thick skin. Mere spanking will achieve nothing. Don't know how or what , but this disease of corruption needs to be eradicated, somehow.

amit · Post by **amit** » 01 Oct 2010 13:52

No concessions on security at Games Village: Lt Governer

After Australian Sports Minister Mark Arbib's official vehicle was stopped from entering the Commonwealth Games Village due to lack of accreditation, Delhi's Lt Governer Tejinder Khanna today said no security concessions would be made for anyone. "Sorry there is no concession for anybody. If
anybody does not have proper accreditation, he will have to go through the process," he said when asked about the Australian Minister being stopped outside the gate.

Arbib today had to walk to the Australian residential block that too after being frisked by the security staff in the absence of proper accreditation.

I just hope they did a deep penetration frisk.

Where's that Channel Seven hack when you need him the most? Maybe he could have smuggled the Sports Minister in his suitcase?

James B · Post by **James B** » 01 Oct 2010 14:46

Some pics from CWG

amit · Post by **amit** » 01 Oct 2010 15:31

Once again thanks for sharing James.

My favourite: the one of those TFTA looking security guys. Now that's what I call a mustache.

Pratyush · Post by **Pratyush** » 01 Oct 2010 17:15

WOW.......

To the photographs

Fidel Guevara · Post by **Fidel Guevara** » 01 Oct 2010 19:48

James B wrote:Some pics from CWG

Which unit would this be? Just going by the moustaches & beards, they look like the Rajasthani BSF guys.

On a related note, which agency is the overall in-charge of security? All press reports talk about the 10000000000 Delhi police in the outer ring, and equal numbers of NSG and "elite commandos" and plainclothes detectives, anti-aircraft forces, the list is endless. If the Inner Pakistani were to hit the roof (hopefully not), then who tells everyone what to do? Need to make sure that all the other agencies listen to the boss-agency's orders...

James B · Post by **James B** » 01 Oct 2010 20:01

For more pictures of CWG you can go to this site

http://www.defenceforum.in/forum/non-mi ... 5038-8.htm