What had happened to Mani Shankar Aiyyar?

Well-read, well-experienced Mani Shankar Aiyyar has been the single most outspoken person against India hosting the Commonwealth Games. The diatribes were without offering an escape route of give and take.

He may have reasons for the grievous criticism he thought fit to lavish on the organizers. He had put up a proposal earlier when he was in charge of sports affairs to set up sports facilities in each village, costing crores of rupees. And the next day he was divested of the sports portfolio.

Aiyyar has said the country should have made preparations for years together after setting up facilities all over the country. There is a point in his argument, but his criticism has gone overboard.

Good that Aiyyar thought it fit to be out of the country when the Delhi Commonwealth Games are being played out.

India’s system is a peculiar one, with a lot of corruption, lethargy, babudom and nobody taking responsibility. Still it would out-manoeuvre all obstacles and put the best in place.

India is on the verge of playing out as a developed country even as nearly half of the 1.2 billion population is not living a decent life of income and facilities.
Mani Shankar Aiyyar’s criticism was a little too much. Wasn’t it?