Kalmadi not in Games organising committee as Congressman

Delinking itself from Commonwealth Games Organising Committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi, the Congress Tuesday said the party MP was not working in the organising body as its representative.

"He (Kalmadi) is not representative of the Congress (in the organising committee) but is there as president of IOA (Indian Olympic Association). Many other leaders are also there including those from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)," Congress spokesman Shakeel Ahmed said here.

Asked about the allegations of excess expenditure and corruption in the games projects, Ahmed said the party had also been watching media reports about complaints in the management of games and "it is for the managing committee to explain".

On the diversion of funds for the Commonwealth Games, Ahmed said the party was "very surprised".

He said Sports Minister M.S. Gill, Urban Development Minister S. Jaipal Reddy and Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit were leaders of "impeccable integrity" and recalled Dikshit's statement that her government should be judged after the games.

Asked about some games projects being under the scanner of the Central Vigilance Commission, he said that the law will take its own course.

Ahmed said that allegations against the organising committee were not levelled at any individual.

Asked why he was not defending Kalmadi when he had defended party ministers, Ahmed said he knew his ministers as a partyman but he was not involved in the organisation of the games.

Both the BJP and the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Tuesday alleged corruption in the preparations for the games.

"There are reports of corruption in tendering process, about heavy advances having been given and non-fulfilment of tender conditions," senior BJP leader Gopinath Munde said, adding that the government had not taken any steps yet to act on the complaints of corruption.

"Action should be taken against those responsible for corruption, he said.

CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury said that upgradation of stadiums for the Commonwealth games had cost far more than the improvements done in stadiums in various parts of the country.

The issue of diversion of funds meant for Dalits to Games projects was raised Tuesday in both houses of parliament by the Bahujan Samaj Party and opposition members.