CM firm on timely National Games

Guwahati, Jan 25 (UNI) Asom Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today reiterated the state's commitment to holding the 33rd National Games from February 9 amidst growing controversies of the government's preparedness for the event and an ULFA threat against it.

Talking to reporters after inaugurating a multi-discipline wing of the Rudra Singha sports complex here, Mr Gogoi said, ''The Games will be held as per schedule and security and other details will be taken care of adequately.'' On a PCG member's statement that the Games would see bloodshed, he said, ''Such statements do not warrant any reaction and are best ignored.'' Mr Hiranya Saikia, a People's Consultative Group (PCG) member and functionary of a sporting body of the state, had recently said the Games would be a 'bloody' affair if the ULFA threat was ignored.

Even amidst government claims of timely and smooth conduct of the event the Assam Olympic Association (AOA) continued to be shrouded in controversies with the sacking of its general secretary for raising doubts on the holding of the sporting festival.

Mr Gogoi, in his capacity as the AOA president, axed AOA general secretary Mukut Medhi for his ''anti-Games activities' last night.

The ouster came after Mr Medhi voiced concern about the safety of the participants and capability of the security forces to maintain peace in view of ULFA's open threat to National Games.

Barely a fortnight before the Games were officially opened, Mr Medhi on the previous day, had 'exposed' the lacunae of the Games preparedness. He told a news conference that Asom was not ready for Games as equipment for 10 disciplines had not yet arrived.

This has been taken very seriously by the Asom government as well as the AOA and last night the chief minister stripped Mr Medhi of all power and responsibility of the Games.

Mr Medhi has been accused of spreading terror amongst the sporting community.

''I was asked by fellow sporting officials whether I could take guarantee for all the athletes who are coming to the Games. I said I cannot because I myself am under threat and moving around with security,'' he said.

This remark has angered both the Asom government as well as the Indian Olympic Association(IOA), which has termed it as 'very unfortunate'.

''We will manage whatever last minute gaps there are,'' Mr Gogoi said.

UNI