Delhi police representative reportedly suggested a business meet during CWG be rescheduled as his department was under pressure to provide security on several fronts

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Delhi police representative reportedly suggested a business meet during CWG be rescheduled as his department was under pressure to provide security on several fronts

Many could see it coming, and it has finally come, allegedly from the horse's mouth. With security a huge aspect as far as the Commonwealth Games are concerned, the cops, it would seem, are feeling the pinch.

During a recent Group of Ministers meeting a Delhi police representative is learnt to have expressed his department's inability to provide security to a meeting of business delegates from Commonwealth countries reportedly scheduled for October 4 and 5. CWG 2010 will be held in Delhi between October 3 and October 14.

The matter had come up for discussion during the GoM meeting where Delhi police is learnt to have said that with so many events scheduled during the Games the department was under tremendous pressure on the issue of security. "Our hands are tied; it is advisable that the meet is either held before or after the Games," the Delhi police is learnt to have told the GoM.

The GoM is learnt to have asked the Games Organising Committe to discuss the matter with Lieutenant Governor, Tejendra Khanna.

The meeting was held last week to review Games-related issues, and was chaired by S Jaipal Reddy, the Urban Development Minister.

The business meet might have 5-10 delegates from each Commonwealth nation, including commerce, trade and tourism ministers apart from senior bureaucrats and some business leaders.u00a0

When contacted, Delhi police spokesperson Rajan Bhagat said: " We haven't said we can't provide security; we will. But at the same time it should be taken into account that there is heavy deployment of police personnel for other Games related events and for the security of players and officials."u00a0

Commonwealth quotes
I, as Chairman of the Organising Committee, am prepared to face any scrutiny by CAG or even a judicial probe for all financial transactions being reported by the Media. -u00a0Suresh Kalmadi, Chairman, Organising Committee, CWG 2010

We have neither given any clean chit nor any unclean chit to anybody. We are neither holding any brief for anybody nor indicting anybody.u00a0- Manish Tewari, Spokesperson, Congress

I am going out for my sister's birthday around then but even if I would have been here, I do not think I would have gone out anywhere for I think there would be a lot of chaos. Rest depends on the situations then.u00a0- Malini Ramani, Designer

I definitely am not going to go to the stadium and watch the Games for I can't take my kids in all that stampede and chaos that is going to be there around that time. I have planned a holiday and would be going out with the family.u00a0u00a0- Noyonika Chatterjee, Model

Stock taking
The Commonwealth Games Organising Committee will hold an emergency meeting of its Executive Board on Thursday. The meeting was called by chairman Suresh Kalmadi following a demand from some of his own influential colleagues, including IOA Secretary General Randhir Singh who said the allegations of financial irregularities were 'grave'.

Coming to town
Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) chief Michael Fennell will be visiting India later this month. While some say his visit was imminent after the alleged irregularities coming to light and incomplete infrastructure for the Games, officials in the Organising Committee said the visit was pre-planned.

Off track
Following allegations of irregularities in CWG Indian Railways, the lead partner in the event, has made it clear that it would release the sponsorship fund only after getting certain clarifications from the CWG Organising Committee (OC). Railways have pledged Rs 100 crore for the Games and an MoU is expected to be signed between the PSU behemoth and the OC shortly.
Besides Railways, NTPC, Air India and Central Bank are other public sector units that have promised to pay Rs 50 crore each to the OC as sponsorship money. NTPC is also believed to have sought some clarifications before releasing its fund taking a cue from the Railways.

- inputs from Shaivya Chauhan

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