Terming the alleged large-scale corruption in the Commonwealth Games projects as a 'national shame,' the Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday sought Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's intervention into the matter and demanded a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe.
"It's a national shame that Commonwealth Games have been attracting such negative publicity...with media highlighting failures, corruption and favouritism in execution of CWG projects. The PM should intervene into the matter and agree for a JPC probe or a judicial enquiry into it," senior BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu told mediapersons in New Delhi .
Accusing the Union government of allowing "loot of public money" in the name of CWG, Naidu said the Centre couldn't be a silent spectator when large-scale irregularities in projects related to the games were being exposed.
There is a total chaos in the execution of the games projects. 50 per cent work is yet to be completed and the mega event is less than two months away, he said.
"It is open loot and cheating, but the central government seems to be unfazed...It cannot escape from its responsibility," the BJP leader said.
Naidu also demanded an inquiry into the allegations that the Delhi government has diverted funds meant for welfare of Scheduled Castes to Commonwealth Games.
The Delhi government has diverted Rs 744 crore to CWG from SC welfare schemes, he said quoting a document issued under Right To Information Act, which was released to the press in New Delhi.
"It was a crime...a probe should be ordered into the charges as funds earmarked for welfare programmes of SCs can not be diverted," he said.
The senior BJP leader said the government should make a categorical statement on it. To a query, Naidu said, "If probe proved that the funds of SC welfare have been diverted, then Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit should resign from the post."
Taking exception to the statement of Suresh Kalmadi, chairman of Commonwealth Games Organising Committee, that he will quit if Congress president Sonia Gandhi wanted him to do so, Naidu asked whether Kalmadi has no accountability towards the people.
"What connection Sonia Gandhi has with CWG ?" he asked. On whether the party wants removal of Kalmadi, the BJP leader said, "All those who involved in the irregularities should go and suspension of some officials was only an eye wash." PTI
