Gill attacks Premji for his comments on Commonwealth Games

Reacting to Azim Premji's statement that investment on events like the Commonwealth Games is a waste of money, the Minister of Sports Dr M S Gill said that the government has decided to give awards to those companies which invest in promotion of sports.

"The captains of Indian industries should come forward and should employ sportsmen. If Bill Gates can invest in the causes worldwide for better health then why cannot the captains of Indian industry rise to the occasion for promotion of sports?

"The country needs to know what has the private sector done about sportsmen who have lead the country with distinction," Dr Gill said on the sidelines of the sports awards given by the president of India Mrs Pratibha Patil.

Premji in a recent article in a leading national daily had said that the thousands of crores of rupees being spent on Games could have been used for building schools and improve infrastructure in the poor parts of the country like Bihar.

Premji, who heads India's one of the largest software development companies, is the currently second richest person of the country with a personal wealth of $17 billion.

Dr Gill also, spoke about industry houses like Tata Steel Limited, who were presented 'Rashtriya Khel Protsahana Puruskar' for their contribution in development of sport in the country.

"We have started recognising, from last year, the industry houses (who are doing something for sport). Tata got their second award today," he said.

Meanwhile, Dr Gill refused to comment on the stadia of Common Wealth Games. "Prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh had visited some of the stadiums and his office has issued a statement I have nothing more to add," he said.