The Hindu : Ramulu creates a flutter

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

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh-Hyderabad

Ramulu creates a flutter

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD Dec. 13. In what could have led to a major embarrassment for the organisers of the National Games, the Sports Minister, P. Ramulu, entered the main stadium holding the torch much ahead of the scheduled time on Friday evening.

A visibly annoyed Home Minister, T. Devender Goud, immediately rushed to Mr. Ramulu and the latter hurriedly withdrew from the stadium. The torch, which was brought to the main stadium by athletes and the Mayor, T. Krishna Reddy, was to have been carried inside by Kameshwer Rao and Malini Reddy into the stadium after the arrival of the President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.

However, an overenthusiastic Sports Minister entered the stadium with the torch well before 90 minutes of the President's arrival. Mr. Goud could be seen wildly gesticulating at the Sports Minister who had to beat a hasty retreat. In fact, when Mr. Ramulu and Mr. Krishna Reddy entered the stadium premises along with 100 or more people the security men did not allow them inside. It was only after heated arguments that they were allowed.

It's cops all the way

Our Staff Reporter writes: Entry was strictly by invitation or tickets. Still, hoping to witness the star-studded inaugural of the National Games, people in large number thronged the G.M.C. Balayogi Stadium.

The police manning the gates, however, were strict and refused entry to those without either invitation or tickets. Several were seen pleading with the security personnel and on sternly rejected, chose to settle down in the sprawling lawns there.

All roads leading to the venue were dotted with police who maintained a strict vigil. Vehicles were stopped at several points and only those possessing valid invitations were allowed to proceed further. As the parking spaces were earmarked at a distance, people had to travel a long distance in reaching the stadium.

When the convoy carrying film stars, including Amitabh Bachchan, Jackie Shroff and others cruised along, fans ran after it to catch a glimpse of the Bollywood stars. Schoolchildren, who lined up the road waving flags since afternoon, however, appeared the disappointed lot as they were not permitted inside the stadium.

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