I Have every right to go to Olympics: Kalmadi
July 14th, 2012 - 8:20 pm ICT by IANSPune, July 14 (IANS) Suresh Kalmadi, the sacked New Delhi Commonwealth Games Organising Committee chief, has defended his controversial trip to London and said he has every right to go to the Olympics since no charge of corruption is proved against him.
“I have every right to attend the Olympics. As president of the Asian Athletics Federation, I have been invited by the International Amateur Athletics Federation (IAAF), of which I am also a council member. I am still the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president,” Kalmadi told reporters here Saturday.
“No charge has been proven against me, how can I be called corrupt?”, Kalmadi said a day after a special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court cleared his London visit.
The CBI court ruling did not go down well with Sports Minister Ajay Maken, who said the tainted sports administrator should not go to London unless he was cleared of charges in connection with the 2010 Commonwealth Games.
Reacting to Maken’s comments, Kalmadi said the sports ministry was running a vilification campaign against him.
“The sports ministry is vilifying me. I feel Maken’s opposition to my trip is unbecoming. He doesn’t know the facts and I request our prime minister to ask for Maken’s resignation for making such comments and statements.”
“In fact, he is making statements against all national sports federations. He just has a habit of talking,” said Kalmadi, who is out on bail after spending nine months in Delhi’s Tihar Jail.
- Kalmadi and Malhotra attack Maken, minister retaliates (Roundup) - Jul 14, 2012
- Maken firm on aborting Kalmadi's London trip - Jul 15, 2012
- Sports ministry wants Kalmadi's London visit aborted - Jul 13, 2012
- Court to decide Wednesday on Kalmadi's London visit (Lead) - Jul 24, 2012
- Maken lauds court's decision on Kalmadi - Jul 25, 2012
- Kalmadi eyes London trip during Olympics - Jul 12, 2012
- Sports ministry uncomfortable with Kalmadi back in IOA: Maken - Jan 24, 2012
- Never had plans to attend opening ceremony: Kalmadi - Jul 25, 2012
- Court allows Kalmadi's London visit (Second Lead) - Jul 25, 2012
- Court notice to Kalmadi over London visit (Second Lead) - Jul 18, 2012
- Kalmadi allowed to visit London for Olympics (Lead) - Jul 13, 2012
- Kalmadi sacked from CWG Organising Committee; remains defiant (Roundup) - Jan 24, 2011
- Sports Minister Maken to ask IOA to elect new chief - Apr 25, 2011
- Sports minister asks IOA to elect new president (Lead) - Apr 25, 2011
- Court notice to Kalmadi over London visit (Lead) - Jul 18, 2012
Tags: 2010 commonwealth games, ajay maken, amateur athletics, asian athletics, cbi court, central bureau of investigation, committee chief, controversial trip, council member, iaaf, indian olympic association, international amateur, ioa president, london visit, organising committee, sports administrator, sports ministry, suresh kalmadi, tihar jail, trip to london