Asom minister asserts National Games' safety

Kolkata, Jan 31 (UNI) Asom minister and National Games Media Committee chairman Pradyut Bardoloi today brushed aside the ULFA boycott call and said the multi-disciplinary sports event in Guwahati would be the safest and the biggest with unprecedented security measures and addition of four new disciplines.

Interacting with media here, Mr Bordoloi, also the Commerce, Industry and Power minsiter in the Tarun Gogoi government, said, ''I am here to explode the myth that Asom is unsafe. Asom is safe and we are assuring that a foolproof security measures are being taken to conduct a peaceful and safe National Games.'' '' The people of Asom are at your service. Each Assamese will take care of you. In addition to the 20 platoons of police and paramilitary forces that would be omnipresent and yet unobtrusive, the people are taking care of you. It's a matter of our pride and we are proud people.

''A separate directorate has been formed under an inspector general for the security. We are not going to be browbeaten by anybody. The ULFA are anti-nationals and we are not going to lose our national pride for some subversive forces. They have created disturbances, we don't deny, but we can assure there won't be any during the Games,'' he asserted.

He said the state government had spent Rs 360 crore for renovating and constructing the entire Games facility.

Other than already existing two venues, 18 venues had been newly constructed and provided a state-of-the-art facility, he said.

Talking about the participation of athletes in the Games, he said, ''Thirtythree states are participating with around 10,000 athletes congregating here. Asom will have the biggest contingent of 800 athletes.'' This is also going to be the biggest National Games with 32 disciplines, which is four more than at Hyderabad.

''Four new disciplines, including Lawn Ball and Rugby Sevens, have been incorporated this time, '' Mr Bordoloi said.

He also said Mr Mukut Medhi had been stripped of his responsibility as Games Secretary for his anti-game comments.

''The way he talked to the press it seemed that he was toeing the line of some separatist forces. This was irresponsible and unacceptable. So he has been relieved of all his responsibilities.

''I am taking this opportunity to tell the media all over the country to come and enjoy and forget about any threat prospect, for there is none. Let us 'Rongmon'. That's the name of our mascot, the one-horned Rhino which is the pride of Asom. Rangmon means to be jovial and enjoy the time. That is what is going to happen at the National Games venue.'' The Games village has a stylish 750 flats for the players and the media facilities are world-standard, he said.

UNI