President should declare the C'wealth Games open: Malhotra

Vijay Kumar Malhotra, senior vice-president of Indian Olympic association and The General Association of National Sports Federations (GANSF) urged the government to ensure that President of India inaugurates the Commonwealth Games.

In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Malhotra said that the President should declare the Games open first, and then Prince Charles can read the Queens message.

"If Prince Charles is allowed to read the message which ends with the line-- I declare the Games open --- before the President, it will be the violation of Indian Constitution," he argued in the letter.

Malhotra said he was writing letter to the PM after raising the issue in the executive board of the Organising Committee and that he was assured that the government is looking into the matter.

"According to the Constitution of India, President of India has the supreme position in the protocol to be observed in any function in India. I have come to know that in the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Prince Charles after reading the Queens message will declare the Games open. After that the President will address & conclude by saying that 'let the Games begin'", he said in letter to PM.

If this procedure is followed then Prince Charles will have the precedent in protocol over the President.