Goel: Remove Kalmadi, set up all-party committee

Opposition party BJP is now demanding that the Commonwealth Games needs an all-party face to instil confidence in the public.

National secretary Vijay Goel met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday and asked for the immediate removal of the organising committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi and the formation of an all-party committee that would look into charges of corruption in the Games.

"The Games have been riddled with corruption and mismanagement and I presented the PM with a memorandum that stated the real position of the preparation and where all the organising committee and the local government have made money. In the 30 minutes that we were together, I told the PM of all that has transpired since 2003 till now in terms of preparation for the Games. The PM gave me a patient hearing and assured me that he would look into the matter," said Goel.

Goel added that in view of the massive mistrust among people regarding the government and the way the Games projects have been implemented, it was necessary to have an all-party involvement in each step.

"It is necessary to present a united face of all parties before the public so that their faith is restored. For things like inspections and the inauguration ceremony, a joint-party forum should be involved," he said.