Row between India, Britain over opening of CWG

London/New Delhi, Sep 27 (PTI) India and Britain were
involved in a row Monday on who would open the Commonwealth
Games with the British side saying Prince Charles would do so
but the Indians still wanting to do the honours.
Sources said that since Queen is not coming to the Games
and in protocol the President is higher, India would like
Pratibha Patil to open the sporting event.
They cited the example of the Commonwealth Games held in
Malaysia in 1998 where the Queen was represented by a Royal
family member and the Malaysian King opened the Games.
Likewise, India, sources said, feels that since the Queen
would not be present here and only the Prince would be
representing her, the President should have the honour of
opening the Games as she is ahead in protocol.
Sources said possibly Charles would read the Baton
message after which the President would also speak, declaring
the Games open.
Charles' office Clarence House issued a statement,
asserting that the heir-to-the-throne will inaugurate it.
"There is no row. Both The Prince of Wales and the
President of India will have a prominent role in the opening
ceremony in Delhi. The Queen has asked The Prince of Wales to
represent her at the opening of the Commonwealth Games.
"We cannot be specific about the choreography but The
Prince will read out the Queen's baton message, ending by
declaring the Games open," a statement from the Clarence House
read.
Charles is attending the Games as a representative of
Queen Elizabeth II, the ceremonial head of the Commonwealth
who will give the event a miss for the first time in 44 years.
Earlier, a British tabloid quoted some of the officials
of the Indian Department of Information as saying that the
Indian President would open the Games.
The Queen's Baton Relay has acted as the curtain-raiser
to every Games since Cardiff in 1958.
It involves the Baton being sent off by the Queen, then
carried through each Commonwealth nation until it is passed
back to the Monarch as her message to the athletes is ready
out at the opening. PTI HSR
SAK


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