Delhi Govt produce white paper on Commonwealth Games: Goel

Former Union sports minister and BJP leader Vijay Goel today alleged that the Commonwealth Organising Committee is stepped in corruption and urgently demanded a white paper on the committee's activities from the Delhi government.

Addressing media persons at the Constitution Club with people motivator Shiv Khera, Mr Goel criticised the Delhi government for a delay in the construction of the stadiums for next year's multi-sports event and blamed the Delhi government for the increasing project costs which are now around three times the earlier projection. Stating that the Organising Committee had been set up in 2005 and the Commonwealth Games was proposed for Delhi in 2003, he added that national dignity would be affected if the projects are not completed on time.

He said the Organising Committee had taken its office premises at Jantar-Mantar on rent from the New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) at the rate of Rs 5.5 crore per month which will cost around a total of Rs 170-200 crore for 30 months, and still several parts of the premises is vacant. Mr Goel, who is also a member of the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee, charged the state government for siphoning off public money as Rs 84 crore is due to be spent on the inaugural and concluding ceremonies of the Games.

He noted that all these questions would be raised in a proposed meeting of the Organising Committee on December 7 and urged the government to put all informations regarding funds allocation and its receiving as well as day to day developments regarding completion of stadiums on its website. Mr Shiv Khera also criticised the Delhi's government for the manner in which it has planned the Commonwealth Games, and demanded that the whole process should be made very transparent.

The two leaders said under the banner of 'Citizen's Forum', thousands of its members will run to stop delays and waste of public money in Commonwealth games on December 6 from the National Stadium to the office of Commonwealth organising committee, at the Jantar-Mantar.