Students protest wasted CWG tickets

The ticket crisis facing the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee (OC) continued to baffle Delhi a day after HT reported 3,000 Games tickets had ended up in junkyards while none was available at booking windows (Why stadiums are empty, Oct 8).

The ticket crisis facing the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee (OC) continued to baffle Delhi a day after HT reported 3,000 Games tickets had ended up in junkyards while none was available at booking windows (Why stadiums are empty, Oct 8).

HT Image

Even as a group of students from colleges such as Miranda House, Khalsa, Hindu and Ramjas protested outside the organising committee’s office on Friday afternoon, demanding free tickets for students, the OC sought to pin the blame on Games volunteers by refusing to give them complimentary tickets — a norm until Thursday.

“We used to get complimentary tickets from the OC office everyday. When we went today (Friday), they threw us out,” a volunteer said.

Delhi government chief secretary Rakesh Mehta said the OC was yet to respond to Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit’s request for free tickets to students made on Wednesday.

OC spokesman Lalit Bhanot was unavailable for a comment.

“The Games are happening but we are not able to buy any tickets. Why can’t they give out free tickets to students?" Anusuya Borkotoki, a third year student of Hindu College, said.

“Taxpayers paid for the stadiums. We should be a part of the Games and get to watch the events,” said Songita Das, a Miranda House student.