As calls for Commonwealth Games organising committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi’s head became shriller, Congress distanced itself from the Pune MP.
Kalmadi came in for severe criticism from both BJP and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) on Thursday.
Demanding his resignation after a CAG report indicted him for financial irregularities and sacked organising committee member TS Darbari accused him of taking all dubious decisions, deputy leader of BJP in Lok Sabha Gopinath Munde said, “Darbari has said all decisions were taken after a nod from Kalmadi. He has said he was made a scapegoat. A CAG report has declared him [Kalmadi] guilty of wrongdoing... It is not right for him to continue in the organising committee post.”
MNS chief Raj Thackeray said, “Action should be taken against Kalmadi.”
Kalmadi may have been expecting some soothing words from his party, Congress, after the criticism, but they did not come. Instead, he was left to fend for himself.
Party spokesperson Jayanthi Natarajan told reporters, “We do not hold any brief... Kalmadi is not there [Indian Olympic Association] as a member of Congress... the actions of Kalmadi as president of an autonomous body are not connected with the party in any way.”
