The rift between sports minister Uma Bharti and Indian Olympic Association President Suresh Kalmadi over the organisation of the Afro-Asian games has widened with top officials of the apex sports body boycotting a meeting of the games empowered committee on Tuesday. IOA sources said neither Kalmadi nor its secretary-general Randhir Singh, who also is secretary-general of the Afro-Asian Games organising committee, attended the meeting of the committee which takes all important decisions.
Kalmadi also called on Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in New Delhi on Monday and is believed to have apprised him of his grievances against the sports minister. The differences between the two came to the fore after Uma Bharti reportedly told Kalmadi that IOA should mobilise Rs 30 crores for the games to supplement the government allocation of about Rs 70 crores, while retaining control over the games marketing committee.
The 1st Afro-Asian games are to be held in New Delhi from November 3 to 11. Bureau Report