Tarique Anwar, BeyondHeadlines
New Delhi: The Bhartiya Janata Party walked out of the Lok Sabha this morning over the government’s delay in tabling the Shunglu report, which assigns responsibility for the massive corruption that infected the Commonwealth Games held in September 2010 in India. Among others, the report allegedly indicts Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, blaming her government for spending more money than required on “the beautification of Delhi.”
The Shunglu Committee was set up in October last year by the Prime Minister. It was asked to investigate “wasteful expenditure,” misuse of funds, and mismanagement among those in charge of organizing the Games.
Dikshit said that she will be able to comment on the report till she has studied it.
In Parliament, senior BJP leader LK Advani said that the media has reported that the Shunglu Committee’s report has been submitted to the government. Mr. Advani wanted the report to be placed on record today, followed by a discussion on its contents.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal told the BJP that the report has not yet been examined by the government. “I will convey to the government through the minister concerned and convey the feelings of the House. If any action has to be taken in the matter it would be taken,” Bansal said.
Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj wasn’t satisfied with that response.
“Action, if required, will be taken is the government’s reply to every demand of the Opposition,” she said before leading the BJP walkout.
The Commonwealth Games were held in India in September 2010. Suresh Kalmadi, who headed the Organizing Committee, has been repeatedly raided and interrogated about the seemingly ubiquitous corruption that infected the event. Virtually every company hired to provide services or equipment for the Games was paid exorbitant amounts. Contracts were often handed out to companies that were ineligible. Several of Mr. Kalmadi’s close associates from the Organizing Committee have been arrested in the last few months
The Shunglu Committee is named for its head, VK Shunglu, the former Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India. He is assisted by Shantanu Consul, who retired as Secretary of the Department of Personnel and Training.
