Wake up, Mr. Prime Minister! (Jago, PM, jago!)

I say for the Nth time: Wake up, Mr. Prime Minister!

India says for the Nth time: Wake up, Mr. Prime Minister!

Tell us, Mr. Prime Minister, till how long will you continue to sleep? The entire nation awaits to hear your voice. There are myriad matters requiring your immediate intervention. India needs assurance from you, the prime minister of India, that all will be well soon. You simply cannot afford to keep silent. (“Silence of the Lamb”?!) As the head of state it is your primary responsibility to ensure that India keeps its commitments honourably. Of course, I am talking about the ongoing crises in the Commonwealth Games.

Mr. Prime Minister, the Indian Media – particularly Times Now - has done its job, though belatedly. Now it is your turn to act. Frankly, no other (developed) country would have let its Media do its work – of exposing the colossal levels of corruption in preparations of the CGW. And yet we are not prepared!

Yes, Mr. Prime Minister, though thousands of crores of tax payers’ money have been spent – criminally wasted – in the name of the Games, yet India is not prepared to host the Games. And you continue to be silent – almost appearing asleep. You cannot absolve yourself of your accountability.

Mr. Prime Minister, as the head of the state of India, it is your responsibility to show to the world that we are not a country with hollow global aspirations; that we as a nation are quite capable of delivering on our promises of holding a international stature event – howsoever irrelevant it may be for the global sporting community. And if today the whole world is casting serious doubts over preparedness of India for the forthcoming Commonwealth Games – besides India’s image suffering a further beating with surrounding corruption – you as the prime minister needs to address the nation and all those CW countries which are going to participate and assure them that the Games will be held as promised. You have to uphold India’s honour in the international arena.

Mr. Prime Minister, you are an incredibly honest politician with impeccable integrity and India owes majorly to you for its economic prosperity. Nevertheless, your position as the prime minister of India does not leave you with the option of sleep and silence over issues of immense importance. Please act and fast as time is less.

Mr. Prime Minister, immediately sack all members of the Organising Committee of the CWG – including Suresh Kalmadi and his cronies. Remove Sheila Dixit right away who as the chief minister of Delhi has failed miserably in delivering on required infrastructure in time. Straight away fire all corrupt officials and parliamentarians – including the useless sports minister M.S. Gill - involved in the preparations of the Games who have made fortunes by stashing away millions in their Swiss accounts. You should not only sack all of them but make sure that each one of the culprits is punished adequately as per laws.

Mr. Prime Minister, please take charge of the CWG directly and immediately by involving qualified and capable people. And if you feel the paucity of time will make it difficult for you to deliver as promised then simply scrap this unnecessary sporting extravaganza. Believe me, no one, absolutely no one, not even a single nation, India included, will miss the otherwise no-purpose Commonwealth Games.

Yes, Mr. Prime Minister, you need to break your silence and speak; not only speak but act swiftly. I am sure no other head of state of a developed nation would have allowed this to happen in his/her country. And even if things would have gone horribly wrong and mammoth corruption would have surfaced, each one of them would have acted instantaneously. Barack Obama, David Cameron, Angela Merkel, Dmitry Medvedev / Vladimir Putin, Nicolas Sarkozy, you name any, all would have acted and owned the accountability completely – and timely.

Mr. Prime Minister, sadly we have not seen you ever speak or act when required. Whether it was 26/11 then (you had taken 3-4 days to face the nation on television to read from a typed script; I don’t think it should have been too difficult for you to speak without an aid on the issue) or the deep crises plaguing the forthcoming Commonwealth Games now.

Prime ministership is not a position; it is a serious responsibility; prime minister is not a ceremonial head but leader of its people. Mr. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, either act like a prime minister or step down. This way you will sustain your honour and respect in hearts and minds of Indians.