The Indian contingent that took part in the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne arrived at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi on Tuesday night.
While medal winners struggled to hold on to their medals, supporters of the Congress party and ministers in Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dixit's cabinet vied with each other to be seen with the latter, who also returned with the Indian contingent that won 22 gold medals, 17 silver, 11 bronze.
Slogans of Shiela Dixit zindabad echoed, as if she had bagged all the medals for India.
Indian Olympic Association president Suresh Kalmadi and media persons were thrown out by over enthusiastic security personnel, who failed to differentiate between unruly Congress supporters and scribes.
Rules were openly flouted right under the nose of law enforcement agencies. The Supreme Court's directives on sound pollution were forgotten as drum-beaters raised a huge din.
It was not before the chief minister realised that her picture with the Commonwealth Games winners was yet to be taken that she stepped in and some sanity restored.
Speaking to rediff.com, Dixit said it is a matter of great honour that the next Commonwealth Games are being held in Delhi.
"Every Indian should feel proud about it," she added.
Defending the Delhi chief minister's presence at the Commonwealth Games, IOA president Kalmadi said, "Being the host she has every right to be there. This would be the first time ever that the Commonwealth Games would be held in India and all of us would have to work very hard to make the 2010 Games a success."
