BJP chief holds PMO responsible

BJP president Nitin Gadkari questioned the Prime Minister’s Office’s role in clearing funds for the Games and demanded a joint parliamentary committee to probe the allegations of corruption. Cong hits back at Gadkari | On a light note

Days after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh took the initiative to institute an inquiry headed by former CAG V.K. Shunglu into the corruption in the preparations for the Commonwealth Games, BJP president Nitin Gadkari questioned the Prime Minister’s Office’s role in clearing funds for the Games and demanded a joint parliamentary committee to probe the allegations of corruption.

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“Even as the reports of irregularities were coming to the fore, more funds were sanctioned by the Cabinet sub-committee.

More money was being pumped into the Games with the approval of the PMO,” Gadkari said at a press conference.

Gadkari held the Cabinet and the PMO responsible for the mess. "How can the blame be pushed on to some officials?" he asked.

The questions from Gadkari came even as the Income Tax department raided the house of BJP leader Sudhanshu Mittal.

"The blame is not limited to Kalmadi or Dikshit. The Cabinet which cleared the projects, the Prime Minister, senior colleagues and GoM monitoring the CWG works also stand responsible," Gadkari said even as he skirted the question on involvement of party men like Mittal.

Later in the day, the Congress party hit back, saying Gadkari was afraid, as many of his party members were now coming in the ambit of the probe. "Probably he feels the investigation might reach him also," party spokesman Manish Tewari said.

On a light note | Congress hits back at Gadkari