Let us stop blame game! It is time to support Commonwealth Games

The Indian as well as foreign media have spoken enough about nation's preparation for the CWG and resultant flows. Enough is enough. With all the limitations (limitations are quite likely considering the lackadaisical performance of those who are in charge of the whole affair and their inefficiency), the conducting of the CWG has become a matter of national prestige. Let us stop this blame game! I am afraid those who are criticizing the whole episode conveniently forget the colossal effort behind setting up of the Games villages and other infrastructure. I agree with all that there were flaws at many stages. However, it is too late for your criticism to make any visible change other than putting the nation’s name to disgrace. Yes, our nation is shamed in the eyes of the world.

Nevertheless, it is time for us all to stand us one nation and support the Games. At times, I wonder (I don’t know whether I am unduly concerned about the name of my country) if there is an element of racism: a kind of white man’s complex to find fault with everything the third world countries do. Of the 70 odd countries participating in the Games, except four (England, New Zealand, Canada, Australia) everybody is silent about the whole issue. Does that mean for these so called ‘developed nations’ these facilities are not world-class? Or, does that mean the poor nations in this ‘unwanted’ Commonwealth( I am against this very concept of Commonwealth because it is a painful reminder of our slavery to the British and I think it is ridiculous to carry forward that legacy even 60 years after gaining independence.)find these facilities world-class? I don't know what to think.

Yes, there were people who might say China hoisted the Olympic games successfully. But how many of us know the flaws they committed when they were constructing the Games villages and other facilities? Nothing was forthcoming to the media outside the iron curtain of China during those days. Only when China opened the facilities to the world, the media had good look at their facilities, and then of course, it was proclaimed world class. (As a matter of fact, nobody wants to offend China because of its economic and military clouts.) However, here we have a free media scrutinizing everything.(In fact, poking their nose into everything)

What about these so called heads and other dignitaries of Commonwealth Games? What were they doing all these four years? They could have come to India and examined the work progress and pointed out the flaws so that it could have been rectified then. However, they come at this eleventh hour to find fault with everything we do to bring disgrace to our nation.

I do agree with you when you say there were kickbacks involved in this project. Our Prime Minister has promised prompt action once the Game is over.

I might be the odd one supporting our nation’s effort to conduct the Games successfully. I, like you all, am aware of the deficiencies. However, as a nation, it is time for all of us to stand behind the authorities as one nation and support this great endeavor.

Congress silence over TJ Joseph row

TJ Joseph is finally terminated from his college. You know this man. He was the one who raised unwanted controversy with his question paper in Newman College. The hell broke loose in Kerala after the question paper row erupted. I am not going to look into the correctness of this professor’s act. That is for you to decide. Personally, I don’t support him and his act.

This topic is about a different topic. The professor’s hand was chopped off by a set of hooligans in the name of a great religion. We might phrase it ‘eye for an eye’. I agree with you, but the subsequent developments in the political circles need a closer look. It shows how our politicians respond to certain situations and thus becoming political opportunists.

Sooner, Kerala is going to witness two political carnivals. The first is the local body elections, and the second and the more important one is assembly polls sometimes early next year. Of the two major coalitions in the state, it is the Congress-led UDF faced the dilemma due to ‘Joseph crisis’. For the other, the CPM-led LDF, it is a losing battle. They are well aware of the chances in the next polls. However, the amusing thing is the silence of UDF leaders, particularly, the Congress after the dismissal of TJ Joseph. They are literally caught between the devil and the sea. One side, they cannot displease the Muslim community by supporting Joseph openly. If they support Joseph, it would be seen them supporting his action. This would help their opponents weaning away Muslim votes in the state, particularly in Malabar region. Muslims have not spoken against Joseph actions as a community, but it doesn’t mean as individuals, Muslims are happy with alleged discredit of their Prophet. So, if the Congress support TJ Joseph, it would be seen supporting his action against their community’s feelings. I wonder what happened to the Kerala Congress factions. One must take note of their actions.

On the other hand, the Congress leaders can’t technically accept the dismissal of Joseph, because of the predominant Christian belt in the central Kerala. Like Muslims, the Christians as a whole haven’t supported his action. Neither they deplored him. However, individual perceptions may vary. If the Congress deplores him and regard the college authority’s action is correct, it would definitely antagonize individual Christians. In that case, that will not be a good omen for Congress and the confused set of Kerala Congress factions in central Kerala. (Already, another Joseph has complicated the matters.)

Adding salt to the Congress wounds, the LDF minister MA Baby has deplored the actions of the college authority. You know, even in a democratic country like ours, no one is going to vote and help a candidate win an election just because of his personal charisma and other qualifications. It is the permutations and combination of communal factors that decide the winnability of a candidate in India, and Kerala is not a exception.
I think now you see why Congress maintains a studied silence over this issue.