NEW DELHI: The Indian government has launched an official Investigation into allegations of corruption and Mismanagement DURING the Preparations for the Commonwealth Games, reports said Saturday. The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) National watchdog ordered the probe into Various Games-related projects now a day after Thursday's closing ceremony, the Press Trust of India said. "The audit work for the Commonwealth Games is related to work payments, pursuant to the Contracts and leases of sports equipment among others," the official news agency said. A high-powered panel of Investigators headed by a former chief of the CAG will submit the ITS Report to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh by January.
The panel will look into "the organization and conduct of the Games, a fix for Social Responsibility and the Alleged irregularities Also Prepare a dossier on the Lessons Learnt for Future Events," The Indian Express newspaper said. Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, one of the driving spirits behind the Frantic last-minute Preparations for the Games, warned Those found guilty Would be punished. "The prime minister has said That whatever has gone wrong will be dealt with severely and Eventually (Those Involved in) corruption Will Not Get Away," Dikshit Told NDTV. "There is a mystery about tickets. People said stadiums were empty But tickets were not available and so what happened? "She said.
The October 3-14 event involving 71 nations was the costliest Commonwealth Games in history, with an initial budget of Organising for $ 2 Billion that was swollen Estimated To Have Thurs at Least Three Times That size. The Soaring costs and highly publicised Construction Delays fuelled Intense Criticism of the Games Organising Committee, In particular ITS Chairman Suresh Kalmadi. Under-fire Kalmadi, a leader of India's Ruling Congress party, insists That the accusations of poor construction have nothing to do with his Committee. Other reports said the federal Revenue Authorities will separately Probe Charges of Financial wrongdoing while the Central Bureau of Investigation will scrutinise tenders handed out by Kalmadi's team to buy sports equipment.
Delhi Police Commissioner Y.S. Dadwal separately Told a news conference that they Would a Police Launch Investigation once the REACH complaints his department. "The Rules are well within defined," they said "when asked if they Would EXAMINE Cases of Alleged wrongdoing. India's main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) urged the government Meanwhile Saturday Thurs unveil the statutory "terms of reference" of the Various Investigations That are Scheduled to Start. "We want a fast, transparent and impartial Enquiry Which will make the people accountable and Concerned These People Should Be Booked Immediately," BJP Spokesman Prakash Javdekar Told AFP. "They (government) are saying it will take for the Three Months Probe Report to be ready and so They Should Immediately start the process," the Spokesman said. "Let us Also see the Terms of Reference of this Enquiry," Javdekar added.
An Indian anti-corruption body in August Reported a plethora of problems with construction work, Including the use of poor-quality materials and Dubious Contracts. In a poll Published on Saturday in the Times of India, 86 Percent of respondents said the Corruption Charges Should Be Fully investigated and the guilty Brought Thurs book. The Games were seen as a chance to spotlight India's Emerging Economic Super Power status on the success of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, But a series of high profile public embarrassments Took the shine off the event and left India on the defensive. afp
0 Comments:
Post a Comment