Lucknow:
Taking strong exception to the inauguration of the Commonwealth Games by Prince Charles, Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav on Wednesday said that the decision smacked of "slave mentality" and insisted that the event be declared open by President Pratibha Patil.
"Had Queen Elizabeth been inaugurating the Games we could have thought it was okay as she is the head of a country. But in this case Prince Charles would be inaugurating while the President would be merely watching it alongside," Yadav said.
"The decision to inaugurate the Games by Prince Charles shows that some persons are still suffering from slave mentality."
Seeking Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's intervention in the matter, Yadav said that the government should ensure that the President inaugurates the sporting event.
The former UP chief minister also wanted the details of expenditure incurred in organising the Games be made public before the event gets underway.
It would be wrong to say that the details of the Games expenditure would be provided after the conclusion of the 12-day sporting extravaganza, he said.
"On our own, we are also preparing a list of how the funds meant for the Games have been spent and how they have been squandered away through corrupt means," Yadav said, adding that he was not against the Games but against unnecessary expenditure.
"This money could have been spent to raise stadiums all over the country which could have helped prepare more sports persons."
"I was told that on Tuesday a bridge was dismantled.. How can it be rebuilt in a couple of days? It is being done merely to increase expenditure," Yadav said.
The SP president also criticised Sports Minister M S Gill for pushing wrestler Sushil Kumar's coach at a press meet in Delhi recently.
"Had Queen Elizabeth been inaugurating the Games we could have thought it was okay as she is the head of a country. But in this case Prince Charles would be inaugurating while the President would be merely watching it alongside," Yadav said.
"The decision to inaugurate the Games by Prince Charles shows that some persons are still suffering from slave mentality."
Seeking Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's intervention in the matter, Yadav said that the government should ensure that the President inaugurates the sporting event.
The former UP chief minister also wanted the details of expenditure incurred in organising the Games be made public before the event gets underway.
It would be wrong to say that the details of the Games expenditure would be provided after the conclusion of the 12-day sporting extravaganza, he said.
"On our own, we are also preparing a list of how the funds meant for the Games have been spent and how they have been squandered away through corrupt means," Yadav said, adding that he was not against the Games but against unnecessary expenditure.
"This money could have been spent to raise stadiums all over the country which could have helped prepare more sports persons."
"I was told that on Tuesday a bridge was dismantled.. How can it be rebuilt in a couple of days? It is being done merely to increase expenditure," Yadav said.
The SP president also criticised Sports Minister M S Gill for pushing wrestler Sushil Kumar's coach at a press meet in Delhi recently.
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