Ludhiana, November 23
The 31st National Games have failed to enthuse politicians in general and members of the Punjab Council of Ministers in particular as hardly any one of them could spare some time to visit any of the venues here after the opening ceremony four days ago.

Even at the time of the opening ceremony, when Union Home Minister L.K. Advani, and Union Sports Minister Uma Bharti, accompanied by Union Fertilizers Minister Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, came only Local Government Minister Balramji Dass Tandon and Sports Minister Nusrat Ali Khan were present.

If one scans the list of the Organising Committee, names of all members of the Council of Ministers, all MPs, including those belonging to the Congress, the CPI, the BJP, the Shiromani Akali Dal, the Akali Dal (Amritsar) and the Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal figure in the list.

Though the absence of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, who unfortunately met with an accident on November 18, is understandable, yet the continuous absence from the first National Games of the new millennium by the members of the Council of Ministers, is intriguing.

Interestingly, at one stage, Mr Manpreet Singh Badal , in recognition of his love for sports and close association with basketball in particular, was taken on the Organising Committee as its co-chairman and also in a similar capacity on the Steering Committee. Unfortunately, like his cousin, Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal, he too, has not been at any venue of the Games so far. The same is the story with Mr Adesh Partap Singh, Excise and Taxation Minister, and a keen water sports lover.

He has been unable to visit this industrial town for any of the ongoing sporting events. The continuous absence of the State Sports Minister after the opening ceremony is amazing. Even the Organising Secretary of the Games, who happens to be the Secretary-General of the Punjab Olympic Association, has remained conspicuous by his absence so far.

Normally politicians and bureaucrats love to dabble in sports but not when the things are unsavoury and hot. The much postponed Games after a colourful opening ceremony had run into usual teething problems.

While players, officials and media have adjusted themselves to these Games of hitches and glitches, politicians may still feel uncomfortable in facing them. So their continuous absence may be to avoid embarrassment.

It is not only the politicians but even senior bureaucrats of the government have been staying away from the Games. Only those bound by duty are to be seen at the venues.