Buck doesn't stop with me for CWG: Sheila Dikshit
Delhi Chief Minister is 'praying' for the success of Commonwealth Games but she tells hindustantimes.com readers to judge her after the sporting event is over. Dikshit further rejected readers' allegations that the Games will trouble Delhiites and that the city made a 'mistake' by hosting the event.Watch Video | Read chat transcript
Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit "prays every night" for the success of the Commonwealth Games but insists that she alone cannot be held responsible for the event. Dikshit said this on Wednesday in an exclusive chat with readers of hindustantimes.com.
"The buck does not stop with me. I'm one of the cogs in the wheel. The wheel is moving. We're working (for the games) in tandem now -- because it's everybody's game. It's the country's game," she said.
Dikshit rejected readers' allegations that the Games, which begin on October 3, will trouble Delhiites and the city made a 'mistake' by hosting the event.
"The common man is the biggest beneficiary (of the Games) -- he's the one who's got the nice green buses, the pedestrian tracks, the flyovers and the health facilities," she said.
"I want to know how it is a mistake. It's a great honour to host the Games. Why are we all concluding that the Games are a failure even before they have started?"
Dikshit admitted that she knows her image depends on the successful completion of the Games. "Of course I care about it ( her image). I assure you that in spite of the negativity, I go forward with positivity. We shall overcome.
"I pray every night for the success of the Games," she said. "If we have been wrong or slack, we have to pay for it now. We cannot let the country down. We go with optimism."
Dikshit rejected allegations that she had not got full support from her Congress party for the Games. "It's not a party game, it's a game for India. There are things above politics," she said.
Dikshit said the collapse of a foot-over bridge near the main stadium of the Games was "an unfortunate accident" but it should not be taken as "collapse" of the Games.
"It's an unfortunate accident. We've instituted an enquiry, and whoever is guilty will be taken to task. (But) it doesn't mean that the whole thing / games have collapsed."