Dangerous Games
The Commonwealth Games are scheduled to be held in the Indian capital of New Delhi on October 3-14. The Games have given rise to consternation and controversy from the very outset. Queen Elizabeth II expressed her anger in no uncertain terms over the corruption and scandals pertaining to organizing the games. Three key figures of the organizing committee in New Delhi have had to resign and the Indian Sports Ministry is more than a mite embarrassed.
Not only that, delays in construction mean none of the Games venues are likely to be ready by the deadline. With infrastructure projects around the city also well behind schedule, the Indian capital is involved in a race against time to be ready to host the Commonwealth Games - the biggest sporting event here since the 1982 Asian Games.
However, that is only the tip of the iceberg where India's concerns lie. The glaring problem, not only for the Indians but for the participating Commonwealth countries too, is the question of security.
Underneath its ˜Shining" veneer, India is a hot bed of terrorist activities and insurgent movements. The question which looms large now is whether India is actually safe enough for the Commonwealth Games to be held. It was understandable when Pakistan was struck of the list of countries to host the World Cup for cricket and perhaps even Pakistan breathed easier despite the slight. But given the prevailing circumstances and the bloody violence which has broken out all over India, is it worth risking the lives of the crème de la crème in the Commonwealth's sporting arena? And it is not the sports men and women alone who are at risk, the general public of India also stands under threat as such a huge sporting event, attracting worldwide attention and media coverage, is prime target for the terrorists to get their message across.
The Commonwealth Games 2010 is tempting to terrorists, no doubt.
Just this year, on April 6, 2010, the communist radical Naxalites launched the biggest attack in the history of their movement. In a well-planned attack by 1000 Naxalites, a total of 76 Indian security personnel of the Central Reserve Forces were killed in two ambushes in Chattisgarh. This is perhaps one of the biggest killings of official security personnel, leaving India's confidence reeling and the people acutely insecure.
The very next month, on May 17, the Naxalites blew up a bus on the Dantewada-Sukhma Road, killing 15 policemen and 20 civilians. Then on June 29 at least 26 personnel of the Indian Central Reserve Forces were killed in another major attack by the Naxals in the Narayanpur district of Chattisgarh. Such bloody attacks continue.
The Naxalites are just one of India's militant groups. There is the age-old separatist movement in the Northeast Indian Seven Sister states, the Maoist movement, the horrendous bloodshed in Kashmir, unrest in Jharkand, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and other state. There is the simmering revolt in the downtrodden Dalit and other sects.
Under these circumstances, questions are being raised as to whether it would be at all wise to actually hold the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi this time. Better safe than sorry,says Aruna Sachdev, an analyst on South Asia now living in the US, There is still time for them to cancel, or at least postpone the Games until things are more secure. Yes, there will be a lost of money wasted, but aren't human lives more valuable?
Not only that, delays in construction mean none of the Games venues are likely to be ready by the deadline. With infrastructure projects around the city also well behind schedule, the Indian capital is involved in a race against time to be ready to host the Commonwealth Games - the biggest sporting event here since the 1982 Asian Games.
However, that is only the tip of the iceberg where India's concerns lie. The glaring problem, not only for the Indians but for the participating Commonwealth countries too, is the question of security.
Underneath its ˜Shining" veneer, India is a hot bed of terrorist activities and insurgent movements. The question which looms large now is whether India is actually safe enough for the Commonwealth Games to be held. It was understandable when Pakistan was struck of the list of countries to host the World Cup for cricket and perhaps even Pakistan breathed easier despite the slight. But given the prevailing circumstances and the bloody violence which has broken out all over India, is it worth risking the lives of the crème de la crème in the Commonwealth's sporting arena? And it is not the sports men and women alone who are at risk, the general public of India also stands under threat as such a huge sporting event, attracting worldwide attention and media coverage, is prime target for the terrorists to get their message across.
The Commonwealth Games 2010 is tempting to terrorists, no doubt.
Just this year, on April 6, 2010, the communist radical Naxalites launched the biggest attack in the history of their movement. In a well-planned attack by 1000 Naxalites, a total of 76 Indian security personnel of the Central Reserve Forces were killed in two ambushes in Chattisgarh. This is perhaps one of the biggest killings of official security personnel, leaving India's confidence reeling and the people acutely insecure.
The very next month, on May 17, the Naxalites blew up a bus on the Dantewada-Sukhma Road, killing 15 policemen and 20 civilians. Then on June 29 at least 26 personnel of the Indian Central Reserve Forces were killed in another major attack by the Naxals in the Narayanpur district of Chattisgarh. Such bloody attacks continue.
The Naxalites are just one of India's militant groups. There is the age-old separatist movement in the Northeast Indian Seven Sister states, the Maoist movement, the horrendous bloodshed in Kashmir, unrest in Jharkand, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and other state. There is the simmering revolt in the downtrodden Dalit and other sects.
Under these circumstances, questions are being raised as to whether it would be at all wise to actually hold the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi this time. Better safe than sorry,says Aruna Sachdev, an analyst on South Asia now living in the US, There is still time for them to cancel, or at least postpone the Games until things are more secure. Yes, there will be a lost of money wasted, but aren't human lives more valuable?
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