Kalmadi's appointment debate leads to Parliament uproar

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Opposition today targeted Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Parliament for the Commonwealth Games mess and over the appointment of Suresh Kalmadi as OC chief and demanded that heads should roll besides seeking a Supreme Court-monitored CBI probe.

During an often acrimonious and heated debate in both the Houses, there was an attempt to rope in UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and target the then Finance Minister P. Chidambaram in the appointment of Kalmadi and sanctioning of funds respectively.

The debate over Sports Minister Ajay Maken's statement last week that Kalmadi was appointed because of NDA government's host city contract for the games virtually ended in pandemonium in the Lok Sabha when senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinha made some insinuations against Maken linking him with former Jharkand Chief Minister Madhu Koda, who was present in the House.

The debate in both the Houses remained inconclusive after BJP forced an adjournment on the alleged police violence against protesting party workers outside Parliament.

Maken was accused of engaging in 'monumental deception' by the Opposition parties which were unsparing on Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit as well.

The sports minister was physically restrained after he started lashing out at BJP's Yashwant Sinha.

The Congress defended the government, with its members saying that the NDA government had handed over all rights to the CWG Games management under the Host City Contract and no legal action could be taken as it could be challenged only in the British courts. They also attacked the CAG.

During spirited debate in both Houses of Parliament, the Opposition also attacked Home Minister Chidambaram, saying he sanctioned funds despite objections.

In the Lok Sabha, BJP's Yashwant Sinha accused Singh of inaction against Kalmadi despite complaints by then sports minister Mani Shankar Aiyer and Dutt.

He insisted that nothing prevented the government from sacking Kalmadi, who anyway was removed from the OC after the Games were over last October.

Responding to the Congress argument that Kalmadi had been appointed by NDA government, Sinha took a dig at the ruling party for disowning the Congress MP after he was imprisoned.

"Who is Suresh Kalmadi? Who gave Kalmadi ticket to contest elections? Who brought him to the Lok Sabha? And now after Kalmadi has landed in Tihar Jail, he is being projected as a BJP man," he said.

Sinha triggered pandemonium when he made remarks against Maken and Koda.

Congress benches erupted in uproar and Maken himself, who was seated in the front row, appeared agitated, removed his earphones and appeared to be wanting to go towards the Opposition side.

However, he was restrained by his Ministerial colleagues V Narayanaswamy and Harish Rawat while Koda described Sinha's charges as baseless.

"I know the BJP because their government also survived in Jharkand with my support," Koda said.

Sinha rejected Parliamentary Affairs Minister P K Bansal's appeal to him to withdraw the remarks he may have said in the heat of the moment.

Sinha's explanation that he did not make any insinuation did not carry conviction with the ruling party members including Minister Ambika Sonia who made it clear that they would not allow him to continue the speech.

With the ruckus continuing, the House was adjourned for 15 minutes but when it resumed it was adjourned for the day for a different reason.