Congress raises pressure on Kalmadi

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The government put its best foot forward in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday to counter the Opposition’s allegations regarding corruption in preparations for the forthcoming Common-wealth Games, but Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh sprang yet another surprise by demanding that Mr Suresh Kalmadi, chairman of the Games organising committee, should resign “if his name figures in a CBI inquiry”.

Replying to a marathon debate over the issue, sports minister M.S. Gill, however, assured the House that the government was willing to consider any inquiry on the charges of corruption relating to the Games.
Not satisfied with the government’s reply, the BJP and its allies staged a walkout after the sports minister ended his reply. Led by the Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj, they walked out chanting slogans demanding a joint parliamentary committee to investigate the alleged irregularities.
Speaking to reporters in Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh, Mr Singh, who is also the AICC office-bearer in charge of the state, said: “If Mr Kalmadi’s name is there prima facie in a CBI case, then on moral grounds he should resign.”
Demanding a CBI inquiry on the matter, Mr Singh, however, was quick to add: “I don’t know whether there are charges... I am not demanding his resignation immediately.” He also said he was against a “media trial” on the corruption charges surrounding the Games. “One should not jump to any conclusion but await for the result of the inquiry,” he added.
In his reply in Parliament, Mr Gill said the government was ready for “any kind of inquiry”, and added: “Our government will continue to be there after October 15.” With the Games not that far, he said, the focus should be kept on sportspersons at present.
The minister assured the House that “nothing will be hidden or covered up”, and claimed credit for his ministry for the strong action against Mr T.S. Darbari, till recently joint director-general at the Games organising committee, as well as some other officials associated with the Games who had been recently removed from their posts.
Interestingly, while Mr Kalmadi was in the House when it discussed the issue on Monday (he had reportedly been directed to be present), he was not present when the government came forth with its reply. Mr Kalmadi has been busy battling charges of corruption over various aspects of Games preparations in recent weeks.
Mr Gill, who spoke for nearly an hour, indicated that the need of the hour was now to ensure that the Games were hosted successfully. He quipped: “With the groom now waiting at the gates, can the bride break off relations?”
With questions already having been raised on the wisdom of India hosting these Games, the sports minister said the matter needed to be kept aside for the moment and the country’s mission was to successfully host the event.
As for construction defects and other problems being encountered at different venues, Mr Gill pledged: “All will be well within a month”.
Rajya Sabha MP Mani Shankar Aiyar, who has been a strong critic of the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, once again targeted Mr Kalmadi on Tuesday, saying that no one was “indispensable” and hosting a “clean” Games should be the priority with less than two months to go for the event.