CWG storm hits Parliament, Oppn guns for Sheila, Maken

Parliament will discuss on Tuesday sports minister Ajay Maken’s statement putting the onus on the NDA government for the appointment of Suresh Kalmadi as the CWG organising committee chairman. HT reports.

Parliament will discuss on Tuesday sports minister Ajay Maken’s statement putting the onus on the NDA government for the appointment of Suresh Kalmadi as the Commonwealth Games organising committee chairman.

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Political parties settled for the discussion after both the Houses were adjourned on Monday following the Opposition’s demand for the resignation of Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit in view of the CAG report and a privilege notice against Maken over his statement in the Lok Sabha last week.

The minister — who blamed the National Democratic Alliance for letting the Kalmadi-led OC run the CWG — said he stood by his words.

“This (privilege notice) is something which is unfortunate and if they allow me to speak in Parliament, I can give reply to what they are seeking,” he said.

On Tuesday, BJP's Arun Jaitley and Prakash Javadekar will open the first front against the government in the Rajya Sabha. Party colleagues Yashwant Sinha and Kirti Azad will lead the Opposition charge in the Lok Sabha.

Sinha had sought suspension of the Question Hour in the Lok Sabha to discuss Maken’s statement and sought permission to move a breach of privilege motion, saying the minister misled the House by revealing selective facts.

Tuesday’s discussion will be the second time in a week that the government and the Opposition agree to debate rather than disrupt business at a time of shrill political discourse on corruption and inflation.

The Congress and the BJP MPs had earlier moved the same notices for a discussion on inflation with voting in the Lok Sabha. The resolution while expressed concern over inflation didn’t directly indict the government.