Right in the middle of the controversy regarding actor Amitabh Bachchan’s presence at a government function in Mumbai and then the sidelining of son Abhishek at the Earth Hour event in Delhi, senior BJP leader V.K. Malhotra wants Bachchan senior to become Commonwealth Games (CWG) brand ambassador.
Malhotra, who is a senior Vice-President of the Indian Olympic Association, has suggested that Amitabh Bachchan should be the main brand ambassador for the Commonwealth Games to be held in Delhi in October.
Malhotra has written a letter to IOA president and Organising Committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi in this regard.
“I have suggested Amitabh Bachchan’s name because he was the brand ambassador for the Asian Games and had anchored the opening ceremony too,” he said.
Malhotra said that some people were paid money to become a part of the function by the Indian contingent at Melbourne Games and this time, this should be done in honorary capacity.
He said there should be more sportspersons and other celebrities representing the Games for the honour and not for money.
“One should do it as a sense of duty towards the nation. We have other brand ambassadors but their role has been vague,” he said.
{{/usCountry}}“One should do it as a sense of duty towards the nation. We have other brand ambassadors but their role has been vague,” he said.
{{/usCountry}}Malhotra, however, claimed that his suggestion has not at all been timed with the controversy regarding Abhishek Bachchan being sidelined at the Earth Hour event, of which he was a brand ambassador.
“There is no connection of this suggestion with Abhishek,” he said.
“I had said the same thing about a month ago in the executive board meeting but have given it in writing only yesterday,” he said.