Kalmadi hits back at Sheila

Commonwealth Games Organising Committee Chairman Suresh Kalmadi hit back at Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Sunday, saying instead of casting aspersions on the OC, she should deal with corruption in her own departments. HT reports. Tightening noose | Graphics: Fixing the blame

Commonwealth Games Organising Committee (OC) Chairman Suresh Kalmadi hit back at Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Sunday, saying instead of casting aspersions on the OC, she should deal with corruption in her own departments.

HT Image

On Saturday, the CM said the "real corruption" seemed to be in the OC and was related to the R1,600-crore loan given to it by the Centre.

Kalmadi issued a statement saying the CM's aspersions were "most disappointing and uncalled for".

"I was quiet as I wanted the Games to succeed… but on Dussehra day, I owe it to the OC that we speak out. We don't want to be the scapegoats anymore," he said.

"Sports infrastructure was to be developed by government agencies," he noted.

"The upgrade and improvement of the city was to be done by the Delhi government with the support of the Centre. (Only) the conduct and delivery of the Games was the OC's responsibility."

"The Games have succeeded because of the efforts of Team India, including a large number of people and agencies and not any individual," he added.

Kalmadi said he was sure the V K Shunglu Committee, a probe panel formed by the Centre, would include within its ambit not just the work undertaken by the OC at a budget of Rs 1,620 crore but also the Rs 16,000 crore spent by Delhi.

Meanwhile, the CVC, probing the alleged financial irregularities in the Games, has asked agencies concerned to submit reports by month-end.

Tightening noose | Graphics: Fixing the blame