New Delhi: Union Minister Kamal Nath on Monday told critics of the Commonwealth Games to wait for a "post- mortem" before apportioning any blame for the lapses, and assured that India would make the event a success.
Athletes have started pouring in to Delhi after a controversy-marked build up to the Games and the Transport and Highways Minister acknowledged that the country got a lot of bad press in the past week.
But, he said, the focus now should be on sport rather than on related issues. "We want it to be a Commonwealth Games and not a blame game.... We will make the ommonwealth Games a success," he insisted.
"If blame has to be apportioned at all, it should be after a post-mortem," Nath told newsmen here after signing an MOU on Cooperation in Road Transport and Highways with his British counterpart Philip Hammond.
Answering questions, Nath said he was not trying to underplay the delays and lapses in preparations, but assured that the Games would be successful. “I don't want to minimise some of the delays (in building the infrastructure). During the last three days there has been a lot of negative publicity. But we will make the Games a success," he said.
Less than two weeks before the commencement of the Games, several countries had expressed serious concerns over the condition of the athletes village, with Commonwealth Games Federation even terming it 'unlivable'.
Indian authorities are racing against time to put the facilities in order as several delays and lapses have prevented the timely completion of the work.
PTI
First Published: Monday, September 27, 2010, 22:25