Set up JPC, Shunglu panel should probe PMO’s role: BJP

NEW DELHI - Attacking the government over the Games allegations, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Monday said Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and the central government were “equally guilty” of irregularities and demanded a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe.

BJP spokesman Tarun Vijay said the Shunglu committee appointed by the government to probe the allegations of corruption should look into the work done by the Prime Minister’s Office too, along with that of the central government, the Delhi government and the Organising Committee.

“The way in which the feud between Suresh Kalmadi and Sheila Dikshit has come out in the open, has reinforced the party’s stand that there has been widespread corruption in the Games,” Vijay said.

“Dikshit was equally guilty along with the central government of irregularities and our party will not accept scapegoat politics,” he said.

The high-level committee, headed by former comptroller and auditor general V.K.Shunglu, was appointed by Prime minister Manmohan Singh last week to look into the conduct and organisation of Commonwealth Games in the wake of widespread allegations.

Kalmadi hit back at Dikshit Sunday for casting aspersions on the Organising Committee, saying this was “disappointing” and “uncalled for.”

Dikshit had stated that the needle of suspicion regarding alleged corruption in the Games pointed to the Organising Committee which had got a loan from the state government.