The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Sports Minister gets clearance to attend Beijing Olympics

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Sports Minister gets clearance to attend Beijing Olympics

Chief Minister had taken up the issue with the Prime Minister

Thiruvananthapuram: Afterinitially excluding Kerala Sports Minister from the Indian delegation for the Beijing Olympics, the Centre has given him the nod to proceed following the intervention of Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan.

Sports Minister M. Vijayakumar’s office received a communication clearing his trip from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) on Friday evening, official sources said.

The LDF government had expressed resentment after the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) refused to include the Minister in the Indian delegation visiting Beijing in connection with the Olympics, alleging that it was done ‘on political grounds.’

The State government received a communication rejecting clearance on Thursday. Mr. Achuthanandan took up the matter with the Prime Minister and the External Affairs Minister, they said. The Minister had made a formal request for him to be included in the Indian delegation of officials and politicians being sponsored by the Ministry of External Affairs for the Beijing visit during the Olympics, which began on Friday.

Mr. Vijayakumar’s plan was to be in Beijing between August 15 and 24. — PTI

Kannur Special Correspondent reports:

Earlier, Union Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahamed refuted the allegation that Mr. Vijayakumar had been denied permission to visit Beijing during the Olympics Games on political grounds.

Talking to reporters after attending a function here on Friday, Mr. Ahamed said the External Affairs Ministry’s denial of permission to Mr. Vijayakumar to visit Beijing was not a political ‘retaliation’ as had been alleged. He dismissed the charge as politically motivated. Priority was given to sportspersons and officials while selecting members of the Indian squad attending the Olympics Games, he said adding that even Union Ministers had been denied permission to be part of the official delegation.

Mr. Ahamed said no Sports Minister of other States was visiting Beijing as member of the Indian squad.

The selection of the official delegation for the Games was the Centre’s responsibility as the Indian Embassy in Beijing was required to provide logistical arrangements for the visiting squad, Mr. Ahamed said.

The Minister earlier laid foundation stone for the Deenul Islam Sabha Educational Institute.

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