Mani stands his ground, bitter Kalmadi congratulates 'spoiler'

New Delhi, Apr 18 (UNI) Even as the country comes to terms with Asian Games bid loss, Sports Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar today stood his ground in stating that such games did not do any good to the vast majority of Indians.

India lost out the bid to host 2014 Asian Games as 45-member Olympic Council of Asia selected South Korean city of Incheon after a ''close'' voting at Kuwait yesterday.

A bitter Indian Olympic Association President Suresh Kalmadi had arttributed India's loss to Mr Aiyar's widely reported statement that holding of the Games would not benefit common man.

''Sports and sports facilities in India need to be broad- based,'' Mr Aiyar told NDTV.

He said the crores of rupees saved from not hosting the Games should now go to Panchayat Abhiyan.

Mr Kalmadi, meanwhile, vented his bitterness by sarcastically congratulating the minister for succeeding in being a spoiler.

''Statements have been made which has been sad for Indian sports. I do not blame Mani, but congratulate him for succeeding in his campaign,'' Mr Kalamadi, who is a Lok Sabha member from Pune, told the channel.

Mr Aiyar asserted that as a minister he has to lay down the sports policy and ''Mr Kalmadi's job was to organise sports events.

''I did not see the bid loss as my victory. I stand by hosting of big games in the country, but such games should benefit vast majority of Indians.

''I am not surprised Mr Kalmadi is disappointed (at the loss of bid). He has the right to have his opinion, I will not respond,'' Mr Aiyar said.

UNI