'Goof-up over Anand's citizenship unfortunate, disappointing'

NEW DELHI: The row over Viswanathan Anand's citizenship might have settled down with an apology from the Human Resource Development Ministry but the controversy drew sharp reactions from the chess wizard's fellow athletes, who called the goof-up unfortunate.

Anand, who holds an Indian passport but lives in Spain, was to be conferred an honorary doctorate by the University of Hyderabad but what was to be a simple ceremony snowballed into a major controversy when it emerged that the HRD ministry had questioned Anand's citizenship.

HRD Minister Kapil Sibal later apologised to Anand but the chess champion had already expressed his inability to accept the doctorate right now.

Olympic gold medallist shooter Abhinav Bindra said the episode was disappointing considering it involved an athlete of Anand's stature.

"Obviously what has happened is very disappointing. He is a big hero. I don't exactly know the details but he must get all the respect. I hope all Indian athletes get the respect they deserve," Bindra told reporters on Tuesday.

"It is disappointing for an Indian athlete who is already working so hard to do well for the country. He or she should get their due.

"As for Anand, he has been doing it for India for such a long time. I mean, he isn't doing it for money or anything else, he is doing it for the pride of the country. If an athlete does so much for the country, he should get the respect he deserves. It is unfortunate when he doesn't," he added.

Star billiards player Michael Ferreira said it seemed like an avoidable goof-up by the bureaucracy.

"It is just a monumental blunder by the HRD people. I don't think it was directed against sportspersons, but obviously it is quite disappointing and I feel the the HRD ministry should have checked everything properly because Anand is a four-time world champion," he said.

"The resultant insult and humiliation can be felt by all. It is very unfortunate," he added.

Chess Grandmaster Pravin Thipsay felt the controversy was sad comment on the shoddy state of affairs in Indian administration.

"As an Indian, I feel ashamed and embarrassed if this is the way our law works. Anand always had a Indian passport and though I appreciate Mr Sibal offering an apology, his ministry should have been more careful in checking the details about Anand before putting up such a question," he said.

An embarassed Sibal spoke to Anand and is understood to have urged him to accept the award. The University of Hyderabad then decided to confer the doctorate to Anand on a later date.

"I told him that the honorary degree could be conferred today itself. He indicated to me that he had some problem about this evening. Then I told him any date of his convenience for the function was okay. He has accepted it," Sibal told a press conference.