Games corruption: Sheila talks tough, warns of stern action

Amid allegations of corruption involving Commonwealth Games projects, Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit on Sunday warned that anybody found guilty would face stern action. Under attack for rubbles still piled up across the city in connection with the Games preparations, she apologised to citizens for the "inconvenience".

"Lot of criticism have been there with regard to CWG preparation. If there is corruption we will find out who is responsible and take stern action against them whoever they are -- central government or Delhi government officials or any others...," Dikshit said, after unfurling the tri-colour during the Independence Day Celebrations here. The comments came in the wake of charges of corruption and irregularities in the CWG projects. The Opposition BJP had also alleged that the Delhi government diverted funds meant for welfare of Scheduled Castes to the Games.

"For the last three to four months, Delhiites had suffered due to the construction works undergoing in the city. I apologise to the citizens for this. But if we have to achieve something, then we have to sacrifice..," she said.

The Chief Minister assured that the fortnight-long event from October 3 to 14 will be the finest in the history of the Games despite the controversies surrounding it.

"The event will be finest in the history of the Games. We have to prove that we are not behind anyone. For this the citizens and the government have to work together," she said.

Dikshit has been under attack from various quarters for the delay in completion of key projects worth over Rs 10,000 crore. She had last month set August 31 as deadline for completing all the projects linked to the event.

Various key Games projects, including the Barapullah Nallah elevated road, UP Link road and projects related to street-scaping works, have missed several deadlines and now questions are being raised whether they will be completed before the final deadline of August 31, set by Dikshit.