Real News: What are your first steps as chairman of the OC?
MK: I have to make sure that the organizing committee can work in harmony. From long experience, I know that this would be very easy if the OC is also my own family. So, my first task is to replace the organizing committee members with my family members - M. K. Stalin, Alagiri, Kanimozhi, their children, and a few Marans thrown in for variety.
Real News: The Central Vigilance Commision (CVC) has found massive corruption in all aspects of the CWG. What are you planning to do about this?
MK: I have looked into the accusations by the CVC. There is no corruption. All those accused by the CVC are dalits, and the vigilance commissioner is a brahmin.
Real News: Your predecessor Mr. Kalmadi himself is facing corruption charges. What is your advice to him?
MK: I know a Tahsildhar in Tamil Nadu who can certify that Mr. Kalmadi is in fact Mr. Kaalmaandi, a Tamil dalit. The corruption charges against him are part of a conspiracy by brahmins in Tamil Nadu. They previously tried to bring down A. Raja because he is a dalit. Having failed before, they are now targeting Mr. Kaalmaandi.
Real News: CVC estimates that several hundred crores have been misapproriated by the organizing committee of the CWG.
MK: This is indeed worrisome for my family members - I mean the new OC. They're worried about whether there is anything left for them to make out of this assignment. I have asked the Prime Minister to make more funds available for the CWG.
Real News: It seems like stadiums and other facilities may not be ready in time for the event. What are you doing about this?
MK: I am bringing film technicians from Chennai to create sets that look like stadiums, swimming pools, housing accommodation, and other facilities. Nobody - except perhaps the athletes - will know they are not real. This is how we inaugurated the new Tamil Nadu assembly building before it was ready.
Real News: There is a widespread feeling that Indian athletes will perform poorly. What are your thoughts on this?
MK: This is exactly what the opposition said about DMK in the last several elections, but we won resoundingly. I am announcing later today that we're giving a free TV set, a free bicycle, biryani packets, pre-paid SIM cards, rice at Rs. 1 per kg, and Rs. 5000 in cash to each referee to award the first place to Indian athletes. CWG volunteers will go to the referees' houses and deliver the goods, and also to warn them of dire consequences if they fail to vote for Indian athletes. We are also demanding 69% reservation of medals to Indian athletes in every game. This will also significantly enhance their ability to win medals.
Real News: The people of Delhi have borne the brunt of the preparations for the games, and most likely will stay home during the games. Are you prepared for a poor turnout at the games?
MK: I have asked the PM to declare a one month holiday for schools across the country, and to run special trains to Delhi for people to travel free of charge - just like what we did for the Coimbatore Tamil conference. This should bring in a huge wave of humanity to Delhi to see the place and attend the games. The contract to serve free meals to the crowd will be given to one of my family members.
Real News: We hear that there is a pre-games extravaganza in the works. Can you throw some light on that?
MK: Certainly. CWG volunteers are organizing a two-day pre-games ceremony in which poets from across the commonwealth will compose songs in praise of me and my accomplishments as the OC chairman. My younger brother A.R. Rahman will set these songs to music. The PM is conferring me the title "Ulaga Magaa Vilayattu Kalaignar" (World's Ultimate Sports Artist), and honorary gold medals for all sporting events will be awarded to me. Tamil film artists will conduct a song-and-dance show to entertain me and the other attendees.
Real News: What other preparations are ongoing?
MK: The PM and the Sports Ministry have agreed in principle that the games will be conducted in Tamil. We're running crash courses to train the referees and athletes to issue and follow instructions and commands in Tamil. We're working on suitable Tamil names for various events like decathlon, and also introducing purely Tamilian games like gilli and paandi in the program. DMK volunteers have been asked to go around Delhi with tar cans to paint over Hindi and English sign boards and write the signs in Tamil.
Real News: Finally, your message to the people of India?
MK: Always speak in Tamil. See all the movies produced by Alagiri and the Marans, and the movies for which I write the screenplay. Avail the free transportation, come to Delhi for the games, and enjoy the free food. Those who can afford it - by which I mean the brahmins, should fly Spicejet and attend the games. Don't forget to visit Tamil Nadu during the next general election and cast your vote for DMK in any polling booth. We have made it very easy and profitable for any Indian to vote for DMK in Tamil Nadu, a fact they can appreciate first-hand. Nanri. Vanakkam. Vaazhga Tamil.
http://not-nytimes.blogspot.com/2010/08/karunanidhi-takes-over-as-cwg-oc.html
Real News: Your predecessor Mr. Kalmadi himself is facing corruption charges. What is your advice to him?
MK: I know a Tahsildhar in Tamil Nadu who can certify that Mr. Kalmadi is in fact Mr. Kaalmaandi, a Tamil dalit. The corruption charges against him are part of a conspiracy by brahmins in Tamil Nadu. They previously tried to bring down A. Raja because he is a dalit. Having failed before, they are now targeting Mr. Kaalmaandi.
Real News: CVC estimates that several hundred crores have been misapproriated by the organizing committee of the CWG.
MK: This is indeed worrisome for my family members - I mean the new OC. They're worried about whether there is anything left for them to make out of this assignment. I have asked the Prime Minister to make more funds available for the CWG.
Real News: It seems like stadiums and other facilities may not be ready in time for the event. What are you doing about this?
MK: I am bringing film technicians from Chennai to create sets that look like stadiums, swimming pools, housing accommodation, and other facilities. Nobody - except perhaps the athletes - will know they are not real. This is how we inaugurated the new Tamil Nadu assembly building before it was ready.
Real News: There is a widespread feeling that Indian athletes will perform poorly. What are your thoughts on this?
MK: This is exactly what the opposition said about DMK in the last several elections, but we won resoundingly. I am announcing later today that we're giving a free TV set, a free bicycle, biryani packets, pre-paid SIM cards, rice at Rs. 1 per kg, and Rs. 5000 in cash to each referee to award the first place to Indian athletes. CWG volunteers will go to the referees' houses and deliver the goods, and also to warn them of dire consequences if they fail to vote for Indian athletes. We are also demanding 69% reservation of medals to Indian athletes in every game. This will also significantly enhance their ability to win medals.
Real News: The people of Delhi have borne the brunt of the preparations for the games, and most likely will stay home during the games. Are you prepared for a poor turnout at the games?
MK: I have asked the PM to declare a one month holiday for schools across the country, and to run special trains to Delhi for people to travel free of charge - just like what we did for the Coimbatore Tamil conference. This should bring in a huge wave of humanity to Delhi to see the place and attend the games. The contract to serve free meals to the crowd will be given to one of my family members.
Real News: We hear that there is a pre-games extravaganza in the works. Can you throw some light on that?
MK: Certainly. CWG volunteers are organizing a two-day pre-games ceremony in which poets from across the commonwealth will compose songs in praise of me and my accomplishments as the OC chairman. My younger brother A.R. Rahman will set these songs to music. The PM is conferring me the title "Ulaga Magaa Vilayattu Kalaignar" (World's Ultimate Sports Artist), and honorary gold medals for all sporting events will be awarded to me. Tamil film artists will conduct a song-and-dance show to entertain me and the other attendees.
Real News: What other preparations are ongoing?
MK: The PM and the Sports Ministry have agreed in principle that the games will be conducted in Tamil. We're running crash courses to train the referees and athletes to issue and follow instructions and commands in Tamil. We're working on suitable Tamil names for various events like decathlon, and also introducing purely Tamilian games like gilli and paandi in the program. DMK volunteers have been asked to go around Delhi with tar cans to paint over Hindi and English sign boards and write the signs in Tamil.
Real News: Finally, your message to the people of India?
MK: Always speak in Tamil. See all the movies produced by Alagiri and the Marans, and the movies for which I write the screenplay. Avail the free transportation, come to Delhi for the games, and enjoy the free food. Those who can afford it - by which I mean the brahmins, should fly Spicejet and attend the games. Don't forget to visit Tamil Nadu during the next general election and cast your vote for DMK in any polling booth. We have made it very easy and profitable for any Indian to vote for DMK in Tamil Nadu, a fact they can appreciate first-hand. Nanri. Vanakkam. Vaazhga Tamil.
http://not-nytimes.blogspot.com/2010/08/karunanidhi-takes-over-as-cwg-oc.html
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