New Delhi: There's a big question mark over October 2010's Commonwealth Games to be held in Delhi. And it's not just because of behind-the-schedule work but security.
NDTV has learnt that teams from the UK, Australia and Canada visited the Games sites and were dissatisfied with the levels of security.
A particularly troubled area was the fact that access to the construction sites was hardly controlled.
That's a potential threat as terrorists showed in Assam that a bomb can be planted and timed to go off months or years later.
Specifically, the UK team which visited the sites told Indian officials they were worried about no access control.
Canada is worried that India has not been able to prevent frequent blasts in major cities, with 2008 being a particularly bad year. The November 2008 Mumbai just worsened their fear as not only did terrorists strike so easily, but it took the Indian authorities three days to control the situation.
Australia, in addition, voiced concern at the lack of security at the sites and pointed out that the IPL was shifted out of India.
Even though the Lankan cricketers were attacked in Lahore, Australia has reportedly argued that if cricket, which is such a popular game in the sub-continent can come under attack, what is the guarantee that other players will be protected?
An alarmed New Delhi responded by sending top Home Ministry teams to the UK, Canada and Australia trying to allay concerns that security is lax.
Even though England's badminton team fled the Hyderabad tournament citing lax security, the British government has said that it will discuss players' security with India for the Commonwealth Games.