Ready for Commonwealth Games probe by any credible agency, no House panel: Sheila Dikshit

Ruling out setting up of a House Committee to probe alleged bunglings in Commonwealth Games spendings, Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit today said her government was ready for any probe by "credible agencies" like CBI, CVC, CAG, Enforcement Directorate and Shunglu Committee.

 

Describing BJP's demand for setting up of a House Committee as "politically motivated", Dikshit said there was no guarantee that the opposition would not resort to "petty politics" if such a panel was set up.

 

"We will give all our records and offer full cooperation to any credible agency. We are ready for any probe as we are confident that what we did was clean and clear...what is the guarantee that they (the opposition) will not politicise the issue if we set up a House Committee," Dikshit said in the Assembly.

 

The chief minister was replying to a discussion on the Commonwealth Games. Earlier, BJP MLAs were evicted from the House after they trouped to the well of the House demanding setting up of a House Committee to probe the "massive corruption" by Delhi government in CWG projects.

 

Dikshit said Government will part with all the information related to Games spendings if anyone wants to see them using Right to Information Act.

 

She said her government was ready for any probe by "credible agencies" like CBI, CVC, CAG, Enforcement Directorate and Shunglu Committee, which was set up by the Centre after the Games.

 

Rejecting opposition charge of corruption, Dikshit categorically said anyone found guilty of any wrongdoing will not be spared. "We will not spare anybody found guilty."

 

Dikshit also questioned why BJP leader VK Malhotra, who was part of the Organising Committee, "kept mum" all along and did not raise his voice against the alleged irregularities in the OC.

 

"VK Malhotra was an integral part of the Committee which was running the Games. Why was he so quiet. Why did not he say anything then. Why could not he tell anybody at all, even if he did not want to go public (about the irregularities in OC). He should have asked questions," said Dikshit.

 

She condemned the attitude of main opposition in the House "which is in habit of leaving the House".

 

"They always run away from the House and their main objective is to create sensation," she claimed.

 

In her reply, Dikshit also blamed DDA for not extending their cooperation to Delhi government in implementing CWG projects. "We did not get the kind of support we should have got from DDA," she said adding the agency is responsible for "drawbacks" found in the Barapullah Nallah project.

 

Dikshit also emphasised the need for proper upkeep of the newly built stadiums and other sport infrastructure.

 

She also announced that a Committee under the chairmanship of sports minister will be constituted to suggest setting up of sports academies or any other institutions to ensure proper utilisation of infrastructure.

 

Complimenting various government departments for successful holding of the Games, she said the city is now confident of holding Asian Games and Olympics.

 

"I know..I am told by the sports ministry that people are now wanting Asian Games and Olympics because that confidence has come that we can do it. In fact the entire world is now confident that if India wants it can do it," she said.

 

About collapse of the foot overbridge outside Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, she said based on the probe report, which has already been submitted, action will be taken soon.

 

Dikshit said city government was able to meet all CWG expenditure because of better tax collection by the government. "We did not burden the citizens by levying extra taxes to meet CWG expenses."

 

She said the Games Village was in "bad shape" few weeks before commencement of the event and was made fully functional with assistance of Delhi government officials.

 

"The Village was appreciated by the Athletes and officials."

 

She further stated that due to hosting of the Games, "we are able to accelerate the pace of development. The development which would have taken next 5-10 years was completed within 2-3 years."

 

"This helped in saving a lot of money as the amount which would have been spent after 10 years would have been much larger due to inflation."

 

Dikshit appreciated the role of volunteers during the event and congratulated Indian athletes for grabbing 101 medals.