BJP rally against irregularities in Commonwealth Games projects

NEW DELHI - The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) staged a massive demonstration here on Friday, protesting the financial irregularities exposed in projects of the XIX Commonwealth Games.

Hundreds of BJP supporters participated in the rally, where senior leaders appealed to the government to initiate stringent action against the guilty.

The BJP supporters chanted anti-government slogans and raised banners and posters.

Highlighting recent reports revealing corruption in the television and broadcast dealings of the mega event, Senior BJP leaders from the party’s Delhi unit slammed the government for ‘letting the accused go scot-free’.

The State-run broadcasting body, Prasar Bharti, through its constituent Doordarshan was the host broadcaster of the recently concluded sporting extravaganza.

Certain media reports had disclosed a dubious contract on production and coverage activities signed in March 2010 between Doordarshan and a UK partnership firm named SIS Live.

BJP Delhi unit chief, Vijender Gupta, demanded immediate arrests of those involved in the scam.

“This is the biggest scandal that has been witnessed in India. However, there have been no arrests, no complaints registered with the police, no First Information Reports (FIRs). Why have no FIRs been lodged yet? Why has no one been arrested till now? Why has no official been suspended? The budget and the files are still with the people who were involved in the scam. Then how can one expect any results?” said Gupta.

Gupta also said that the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and his Residence should be brought under the purview of the investigation into the irregularities.

“The entire matter must be probed. The Central Bureau of Investigation must investigate the matter. The officials whose names have come up in the scam must be suspended till the matter is resolved,” said Gupta.

“The entire scam is to the tune of rupees 770 billion, but no action has been initiated. We are protesting this negligence, and we want an answer from the Prime Minister on this matter,” he added.

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh promised a probe into the irregularities after corruption charges, health and security issues and mismanagement threatened to turn the Delhi Games into a 6 billion dollars public relations disaster.

Over 200 officials from Income Tax department (IT) searched homes and offices of several people, including BJP leader Sudhanshu Mittal and other Games contractors. (ANI)