The Hindu : Security staff close gates on Mayor

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Dec 14, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh-Hyderabad

Security staff close gates on Mayor

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD Dec. 13. Hyderabad's first citizen came holding aloft the National Games torch, but to his dismay found the security personnel closing the gates on him.

The Mayor, T. Krishna Reddy, along with a group of volunteers, who had accompanied the torch from Srikakulam, arrived at the GMC Balayogi stadium complex at Gachibowli a few minutes before the formal inaugural of the 32nd National Games. Seeing the group marching towards the entrance gate, the security personnel on duty there immediately shut both the gates.

A heated argument later, Mr. Krishna Reddy was allowed inside but the volunteers who criss-crossed the City with the torch and the mascot, Veera, were left stranded outside. Enraged at the scene of the Mayor leaving them behind, the 40-odd volunteers tried to break the security cordon and forcibly enter the stadium complex.

A few minutes of pushing and jostling later, the police forced the volunteers out. Visibly upset at the treatment meted out to them, the youngsters from the Athletics Academy, Srikakulam, got into arguments with the police. "We have covered such a long distance with the torch and now are not allowed inside,'' said A.D.L. Janardhan.

Today itself, they had gone around the City with the National Games torch and mascot covering 30-odd km. "We were not provided lunch or snacks, but inspired by the spirit of the Games, we covered the City. Now, we are not allowed to join the inaugural,'' complained Ch. Kishore, another member from the Academy.

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