I am yet to come to an agreement with the installation of late Arun Jaitley’s statue at Delhi’s Ferozshah Kotla Stadium. No doubt, his spirit, and passion for the game of cricket strengthened his faith in taking up the role of administering this gentleman’s game.
Jaitely, as a politician and lawyer, wore many hats. He inspired, motivated, and encouraged a whole lot with his immense contributions as a man of all seasons. Had he practiced and proposed the same set of benchmarks while occupying the role of facilitator than an administrator of DDCA, then matters would have been distinguishably different.
Bishen Singh Bedi, one of the pioneering off-spinner bowlers and players of his time, wants his name removed from the stadium stands. Kirti Azad Jha, former BJP MP from Darbhanga and a high-ranking member of the DDCA committee, had to resign, alleging misconduct and corruption in the core committees of DDCA.
Confessing to Jaitely’s knowledge of these malpractices proved to be a costly affair for Kirti Azad, forcing the end of his political road and rank with the Bhartiya Janta Party. Shouldn’t Jaitely have adopted a fair approach and attitude while managing and running the daily functioning of DDCA?
His credibility, character, and command as a public personality and figure visibly made him adjust to the compromise he made during his stint in DDCA. I mean, for a person who always stood for accountability, transparency, and probity in public, he didn’t bother to show up restricted by his ambitions, aspirations, objectives, and interests.
Maybe I am drawing my assumptions and analysis concerning the strategic sidelining of the finest cricketing genius and legends for my belief and faith in this gentleman’s game, which no more involves any gentleness.