BJP today demanded a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe into corruption allegations in the Commonwealth Games, 2G spectrum allocation and the Adarsh Housing Society and said it will corner the government on these issues in Parliament from tomorrow.

"There are so many ministries and ministers involved in these things. A Joint Parliamentary probe is the only option to probe these matters," senior BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu told reporters here.

He was asked if the corruption allegations in these matters should be probed by a JPC.

"On all these issues, we want a debate in the Parliament and Government should tell us which agency will probe the matters. This is just the first day. From tomorrow, we will corner the government on issues such as corruption, inflation and farmer's problems," Naidu added.

Reacting to a query on the removal of Ashok Chavan as Maharashtra Chief Minister on the Adarsh Society issue, he said, "Only the removal of Ashok Chavan will not do. There is involvement of various former chief ministers, senior congress leaders are facing serious allegations into the case."

Commenting on the corruption allegations into the Commonwealth Games, Naidu said, "This is mega scam and many agencies and ministries are involved in it. There should be a probe against people concerned and action should be taken."


Oppn raps govt for major scams

New Delhi, Nov 9 (PTI) The opposition in Lok Sabha today took the government to task over various scams including allocation of 2G spectrum, Commonwealth Games and Adarsh housing, and said the resignation of Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan was "not enough".

Raising the issue during Zero Hour, CPI(M) leader Basudeb Acharia, Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj and JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav demanded thorough probe into the scams as well as a statement from the government, saying it was a matter of concern that so many "major scams" had taken place in the past three-four years.

"The entire nation has been ashamed. Though he (Chavan) has resigned, mere quitting the post of Chief Minister is not enough. An independent probe (into the Adarsh Housing Society scam) is required. Government owes an explanation to the people," said Acharia and sought punishment to all those found guilty, including the "political bosses".

Agreeing with the CPI(M) leader, Swaraj said apart from the scams mentioned by him, there were "major scandals" even in the government's flagship programmes like national rural employment guarantee scheme and highways projects.

As her speech was repeatedly disrupted by members from Treasury benches, an angry Swaraj asked, "Can't we raise the issue of corruption even in the House? If the House is not being allowed to function, it is not the Opposition but the ruling party which is to be blamed."

In response, Parliamentary Affairs Minister P K Bansal urged the Leader of Opposition "not to be so sensitive" and assured her that the issues she raised would be debated and the government was ready for discussion.

Sharad Yadav also demanded a full-fledged debate on the scandals, saying "corruption was spreading in all spheres of our lives, like blood in our veins". He claimed that the CWG scam involved as high as Rs 70,000 crore to 90,000 crore.

Congress member Suresh Kalmadi, who is chairman of the Organising Committee of the CWG, was not present in the House when the issue was raised. Kalmadi's resignation as Congress Parliamentarty Secretary was accepted by party chief Sonia Gandhi shortly before the start of the Winter Session.

When Yadav spoke of the Adarsh housing scandal in Maharashtra and said the land for the project belonged to the Defence department and was meant for the widows of Kargil martyrs, Congress members were on their feet saying "why don't you talk of the Kargil coffin scam."

To this, Yadav said the coffin scam was investigated "but what came out? You will not accept Joint Parliamentary Committee (probe)...and the confidence on CBI is also waning."

The Left parties had moved an adjournment motion on the corruption issue as other Opposition parties said they would raise issues including rotting foodgrains and problems in Kashmir during this session.