The ongoing National Games has been no exception. A flaming row has erupted over the conduct of the Games, which have been enmeshed in controversies right from the word go.

Problems started since the dismal flop of the show staged by super star Mohanlal’s newly-formed musical band, Lalisom on the opening day of the Games. In a move to redeem his reputation, the superstar has returned the Rs 1.63 crore he charged for conducting the performance, refusing the government’s request not to do so. But the controversies that have followed it have only escalated with the passage of time.

An alert opposition has grabbed the chance to embarrass the UDF Government with both hands, and is twisting the knife in the ‘wound’ with obvious relish. The Opposition Left Democratic Front (LDF) has demanded a CBI probe into the allegations of corruption, bungling, irregularities and other scams that have marred the Games.

The cornered Government has, as has been its wont, blamed it all on the erstwhile LDF Government! Beleaguered Sports Minister, Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, who had to bear the brunt of criticism, has accused the previous Achuthanandan government of diverting funds meant for spending on the National Games!

But sports minister in the VS Government, M. Vijayakumar has promptly called Radhakrishnan’s bluff with a point by point rebuttal of the criticism. The latter had claimed to be in possession of evidence to prove fund diversion by the previous LDF Government. By way of ‘proof’, he said Rs 1.96 crore was spent on the stadium at Attingal; Rs 67 lakh on the Thankamma stadium at Perurkada and Rs 5 crore on the EMS stadium at Alappuzha. Besides, Rs 73 lakh was spent on a foreign trip by the erstwhile government, Thruvanchoor alleged.

Vijayakumar has, however, demolished Radhakrishnan’s claims. He said not a paisa was spent on the Perurkada stadium from the funds for the National Games. As for the Attingal stadium, it is one of the venues of the Games. Therefore, there is no substance in the criticism that Rs 1.96 crore was spent on it. The amount spent on the stadium at Alappuzha was out of the funds allocated in the State budget, and not from the Games fund, Vijayakumar asserted. On the other hand, An amount of Rs 4 crore was spent on the Thiruvananthapuram Tennis Club, which is not a venue of the Games, from the Games fund, Vijayakumar alleged. Again, he alleged, Rs 17. 5 crore was diverted from the national Games fund for the Pala Municipal Stadium. Pala, incidentally, is the constituency of Finance Minister K. M. Mani, who is in the eye of the bar bribery scam.

Vijayakumar, who quit as executive member of the Organising Committee of the National Games, has alleged that there was corruption to the tune of Rs 190 crore in the conduct of the Games. The state CPI(M) has demanded stringent action against all those who ‘have shamed Kerala’. The party also recalled that the previous National Games, held in the state during the tenure of the EK Nayanar-led LDF Government in 1987, was a roaring success, and not a breath of scandal had touched the conduct of that event.

It is not as if the LDF alone is pointing an accusing finger at the Chandy Government. A few Congress MLAs have also demanded action against all those who have minted money in the conduct of the Games. Prominent among them are MLAs, K. Muralidharan, TN Prathapan and senior Congress leader, Palod Ravi. Government Chief Whip and KC(M) leader, P. C. George has also accused the ruling party leaders of indulging in corruption, using superstar Mohanlal as a shield.

The newly-appointed Chief Secretary, Jiji Thomson also contributed his mite to escalating the controversy. Thompson made some critical remarks on the conduct of the games by addressing a press conference! A furious Sports Minister Radhakrishnan made a scathing attack against the Chief Secretary, and sought a public apology for his adverse remarks. The CS expressed his regrets following the intervention of the Chief Minister. In the balancing act which the CM performed, he became the butt of many a joke for defending both the Chief Secretary and the Sports Minister!

In fairness to Radhakrishnan, it must be said the Chief Secretary had no business to voice his criticism before the presspersons. If he had any reservations, he should have conveyed the same to the Sports Minister or the CM.

Meanwhile, complaints have been pouring in thick and fast over the conduct of the games. Participants in the Games had a lot to be critical: there were no proper kits; food was often not provided on time; the media has its own tales of woe to narrate: there were hardly any facilities for filing daily reports at the media centre! And, to compound the offence, complaints to the concerned authorities went unheeded.

The latest on the Games is that the CBI has initiated an informal probe into the alleged wrongdoing and corruption. A CBI team is learnt to have visited the Kerala capital and is said to be on the job right away.

The Government is putting up a brave face by offering to conduct an audit and complete it within 45 days in an attempt to ward off growing criticism.

Whatever the outcome, one thing can be said with certainty. A prestigious event which should have become a feather in the government’s cap, has turned out to be an unmitigated disaster thanks to corruption allegations, mismanagement, bungling and what not. The Games should have made the Keralites swell with pride. Instead, they have been forced to hang their heads in shame. (IPA Service)