Scandal

New Delhi: Commonwealth Games Organising Committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi 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”.

Aiyar 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…

NEW DELHI: Relentless in his misgivings about the Commonwealth Games, Rajya Sabha MP and former sports minister Mani Shankar Aiyar has alleged that the government was encouraging trafficking and prostitution for the showpiece event. He expressed concern in a letter to Union tourism minister Kumari Selja.

Quoting various media reports, Aiyar said escort agencies were gearing themselves up for the Games, and there were also indications that a large number of women from Russia and other east European countries were going to be in Delhi in October. “When Naco said it was putting 150 condom vending machines at the Games village, I was…

New Delhi: Police investigations into the sex racket allegedly run by Godman Shiv Murat Dwivedi have revealed that he was planning to flee the country after the Commonwealth Games in October.

Police officials said that Dwivedi, also known as Ichchadhari Sant Swami Bhimanandji Maharaj Chitrakootwale, was planning to make as much money as he could till the Commonwealth Games were over and then flee the country.

“First he got his passport made in his real name, but then he realised that the name might not help him in getting money in the name of charity. So he changed his name to Sant Swami Bhimanandji Maharaj Chitrakootwale through an affidavit,” said the investigating…

NEW DELHI: If you have a mania for fitness and want nothing less than the very best treadmill, Harrods of London can sell you the exercise machine for £10,000, or about Rs 7 lakh. Now, how much do you think Suresh Kalmadi and his Commonwealth Games organising panel should pay to rent — rent, mind you, not buy — a treadmill for 45 days?

If you discovered that they are paying Rs 9,75,000 in taxpayer money just to hire a treadmill for a month and a half, would you…