AGP, BJP object to Sonia inaugurating National Games

Guwahati, Feb 9 (UNI) The Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and the BJP have taken strong exception to Congress president Sonia Gandhi inaugurating the 33rd National Games here.

Ms Gandhi, who is also the UPA Chairperson, declared the 10-day extravaganza open today as against done conventionally by the head of the State or Prime Minister or Chief Minister of the host state.

''This is simply shocking and unpardonable,'' said BJP state president Ramen Deka. ''What stopped Asom Government from inviting the President to open it, I simply can not understand,'' he said.

The AGP was equally livid. The AGP Secretary General Dilip Saikia said that the inauguration by Ms Gandhi was ''totally inappropriate and unprecedented''.

The Congress Government of Asom have turned the Games venue as an extension of Congress rally by wrapping with party colored tents.

Very carefully they have done so that a Congress tinge can be given all over the National Games.

''If the heads of the state were not available, the heads of various sports organisations inaugurate a sports meet and never in the history of the world has a political leader been asked to inaugurate a sports meet,'' he said.

''Ours is not merely a technical objection and none can hold an established convention to ransom,'' he added.

UNI