Suresh Kalmadi and Lalit Bhanot have been removed from the Organising Committee of the Commonwealth Games (CWG) and not a moment too soon, especially as far as the credibility of the Congress party is concerned. The ostensible reason is that the request came from the Central Bureau of Investigation which pointed out to the government that as long as these two were still in charge there was little chance of a fair enquiry into the allegations of rampant corruption against them.
But it is more likely that this is one more face-saving gesture by the Congress, which is still left with a lot of egg on its face, given the revelations of the last months of 2010. Kalmadi has been, of course, unrepentant and defiant almost of his power and status. Indeed, he even has the International Olympic Committee in his corner, as it sent out a message to the Indian government that interference in its India wing will not be tolerated. It goes without saying that it is Kalmadi who heads the Indian Olympic Association.
Kalmadi's defiance shows a man who is completely out of sync with the times. He appears to have lost all sense of propriety and moral responsibility. Rather than make a honourable exit after the CWG debacle, he has waited to be removed from post after post within the party and without. Yet, it is also possible that this is how Kalmadi understands the power game as it used to be played — the force of public opinion could be manipulated or ignored in whichever way it suited you.
Those times, unfortunately for him — and fortunately for us — are gone. The charges against him have to be proved, of course, but right now, that seems academic, given the evidence which has reached the public domain. There is also the added embarrassment of complaints of non-payment of dues running into millions of dollars by companies in Australia. The new sports minister Ajay Maken, who has taken charge after MS Gill was removed, is scrambling to make amends. This is an additional humiliating circumstance which this government does not need.
The CWG overran its budget by thousands of crores — a fact that ought not to be forgotten. Sitting at the top of that pile is Kalmadi. The ongoing scrutiny promises to be a lesson in how too much power can lose you both friends and influence.
