Dubbing the ongoing preparations for the Commonwealth Games as a "basket of scandals", BJP on Saturday demanded a judicial probe into the allegations of money laundering and mismanagement after the international even was over.
"There are unacceptable controversies under every aspect of preparations...it is a basket of scandals and the BJP demands a judicial probe into the various irregularities. Since the preparations are on, the probe should take place soon after the event is over," party spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman told reporters.
Holding the Centre, as well as the Delhi Government, "equally responsible" for the state of affairs, Sitharaman said every aspect of the preparation was plagued by controversies.
"Both the Delhi government and the Government of India are responsible. We hold the Congress responsible for this," she said.
"The BJP is shocked and disappointed at the revelations of the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC). We are further dismayed at the revelation in a section of the media tracking this scandal about a money trail to the United Kingdom," she said adding the allegations levelled by the opposition parties have been strengthened by investigation agencies in the UK.
She said such international events are a showcase for a country's sports talent and sporting infrastructure. "It is, however, a shame that we will be known for substandard products and works, favouritism and syphoning off of funds," she said.
Slamming the government, she said her party disapproved of the "thorough disregard the Congress government has shown to all the charges laid bare by the Opposition all the while," she added.
Congress too wants a probe
With controversies dogging Commonwealth Games, a "worried" Congress said any irregularity should be probed into and the organisers as well as others involved should ensure that the country's prestige does not suffer.
"We are definitely worried a little with it (reports of delays and irregularities). The irregularities that have happened should be probed and those guilty punished," party spokesperson Shakeel Ahmed said.
He added that the party's "concern is that the Commonwealth Ganes were happening in the country for the first time. Representatives of a number of countries, players, mediapersons will come. If there is any lacunae or irregularity in the Games, it will not be good for the country's image."
The spokesperson said that those who are engaged in organizing the Games and others should take care that "the country's prestige does not suffer". Allegations of a substantial sum of money being transferred to AM Films by Games Organising Committee (OC) for its "services" for the Queen's Baton Relay's London leg emerged with the British Government also raising doubts about the deal.
The company, however, denied allegations that the deal with the CWG Organising Committee was questionable.
Cabinet Secretary K M Chandrashekhar held a review meeting, which was attended by officials of concerned agencies, including CWG Organising Committee, Youth and Sports Ministry, Urban Development Ministry and Tourism Ministry.
