CWG corruption rocks Lok Sbaha

Opposition accuses government of "allowing loot" of public money

PTI | August 6, 2010



The issue of alleged large-scale corruption in the Commonwealth Games (CWG) projects today rocked Lok Sabha with the entire opposition attacking the government accusing it of allowing "loot" of public money.

Members of the BJP, JD(U), Left parties and Samajwadi Party targetted the government on the issue, with the Left demanding a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to probe charges of corruption in the games projects.

Urban Development Minister S Jaipal Reddy was not allowed to respond to the charges by an angry opposition, which wanted the reply only after a full-fledged debate.

After an hour-long impromptu debate, Speaker Meira Kumar adjourned the House ahead of the lunch recess as heated exchanges between opposition and treasury benches continued with the latter protesting vociferously for not listening to the government's version.

CPI(M) leader Basudeb Acharia demanded setting up of a JPC on the "large-scale corruption scam", alleging that while a cricket stadium in Hyderabad was constructed at Rs 90 crore, the renovation of Jawaharlal Nehru stadium in Delhi cost over Rs 961 crore.

"There is no accountability. No one has been held responsible. Government says it does not have money to supply foodgrains," Acharia said, with Gurudas Dasgupta (CPI) saying this was "a loot of public money" as over Rs 50,000 crore was being spent on the games.

Seeking to counter the opposition, Congress member Sanjay Nirupam said it does not behove some of the opposition leaders to talk about corruption, a statement that led to protests.

"You can't hang a person against whom charges have been made without trial".

Dasgupta said "it is a matter of shame, of dereliction of duty. This government is unable to manage rising prices. At least, they should manage the games properly". India's dignity was being lowered in the international fora by reports of corruption in the CWG projects, he added.

Raising the issue during Zero Hour, he recalled that in the 1982 Asian Games, then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was personally monitoring the projects by visiting the sites.

"What is happening today is total chaos and disaster, bringing the country to shame. ... You (government) are proving to the world that India is incapable of holding the games. Shame," he said.

Noting that he respected the independent status of the sports bodies responsible for organising the games, he said "they can't hold the country to ransom. The government is responsible."

JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav said the CWG was "a game of (erstwhile) colonial nations" and it was being organised in a "frivolous manner".

The JD(U) chief and his SP counterpart Mulayam Singh Yadav claimed that the actual cost of hosting the CWG was around Rs one lakh crore, which was being spent in a surreptitious manner.

Sharad Yadav said he was even ready to prove the charge.

The SP chief later led a walkout of his party colleagues demanding that the Prime Minister should make a statement on the entire matter.

His party colleague Rewati Raman Singh said that with only 57 days left for the games to start, there was uncertainty over whether the event could actually be held.

Former cricketer and BJP member Kirti Azad lamented that no one was bothered as to how many medals India would be able to win at the games when so much of money was being spent.

He said when Indian cricket team won the World Cup in 1985, "we had put in so much of effort, not to earn money but to enhance the prestige of the country. It was only a feeling of nationalism which had pervaded amongst us (team members) then".

Azad also pointed towards his former team member Mohammad Azharuddin of the Congress, prodding him also to have his say.

Comments

 

Other News

India`s renewable race is moving beyond megawatts

When Shell bought Sprng Energy in 2022, India`s renewable energy market appeared to offer precisely what global energy majors were seeking: scale, growth and a place in one of the world`s largest energy transitions. Four years later, Shell is selling the same business to Aditya Birla Group for an enterpris

Nepal Floods: India keeps close watch on the situation

India`s central government has been keeping a close watch on the situation arising out of the flash flood in Nepal on Wednesday. Union home minister Amit Shah spoke with the chief ministers of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, the two states that share the border with Nepal, regarding the disaster

UPI completes 10 years of digital payments revolution

The Unified Payments Interface (UPI), launched on August 25, 2016 by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) under the regulatory oversight of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), has completed 10 years of transforming digital payments in India. UPI has emerged as the backbone of India’s digi

Here’s an I.D.E.A. for career growth and success

Success in today’s professional organisation is no longer solely determined by academic qualifications, technical expertise or years of experience. While these attributes do matter, organisations increasingly value individuals who demonstrate the right mindset and behavioural qualities. The ability

PM interacts with CEOs, founders of space startups

Prime minister Narendra Modi interacted with CEOs and Founders of 20 Space Startups at Seva Teerth on Friday.   CEOs of leading companies in the space sector working in diverse fields ranging from building rockets and reusable semi-cryogenic launch vehicles, avionics, satelli

From one cow to a dairy business

In 2012, Anita Dash wasn`t dreaming of building a dairy brand. She wasn`t studying business models or planning market expansion. Like countless mothers across India, her focus was on something much simpler: giving her children a better future.   At the time, her most valuable

Upcoming Conferences



-->

Archives

Current Issue

Opinion

Facebook Twitter Google Plus Linkedin Subscribe Newsletter

Twitter