Thu, Sep 23 10 12:12 AM
Betwa Sharma New York, Sep 22 (PTI) With the Delhi Commonwealth Games hit by a series of concerns, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna today sought to reassure the world that India was determined to make the event a success, and that security will not be a worrying issue. Krishna, who is in New York to attend the UN General Assembly session, asserted that athletes and participants arriving in New Delhi will be protected and have no reason to worry. "Their security will not be an issue," Krishna told BBC, even as a number of athletes pulled out of the October event that has been marred by delays and lapses. England''s world champion triple jumper, Phillips Idowu, became the latest star athlete to pull out of the scandal-marred Commonwealth Games due to security reasons. The build-up to the Games has also been marred by complaints over unhygienic conditions at the Games Village, and to make things worse a foot over bridge collapsed near the main stadium yesterday, injuring 27 people. Commonwealth Games Federation chief Michael Fennell has already shot off a letter to Cabinet Secretary detailing the "unlivable" conditions at Athletes'' Village which along with a footbridge collapse near the main Games venue had triggered withdrawal of two high-profile athletes besides pull out threats from some countries. But, Krishna, put up a confident face saying India had put a lot of effort, and it was determined to make the Games a success. "Come 3rd of October, the international community will be able to see the efforts that India has put in making the Games a success," Krishna said. Earlier this week, two foreign tourists were injured when gunmen targeted their vehicle near Jama Masjid, putting a question mark over Delhi''s security preparedness. ''Now call it off!'', ''Games in crisis'' screamed British tabloids, slamming what are being described as shoddy preparations and a blow to India''s pride. The collapse of the bridge near the main Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium and poor living conditions in the Games Village too hogged space in the media, with the leading daily ''The Guardian'' asking ''Does this look ready to you?'' Responding to a question over the collapse of the bridge, Krishna said, "This is a period of monsoon season, the bridge was under construction". He insisted that such instances would not happen again. "The people, the government and the prime minister of India are resolved and determined to make the Commonwealth Games a success," he said. Later today, Krishna will speak at the Millennium Development Goals Summit in the UN General Assembly where US President Barack Obama is also scheduled to speak.
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