Nitin Gadkari demands JPC probe into CWG
New Delhi : Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday demanded a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) investigation to look into the financial irregularities of the Commonwealth Games (CWG).
Gadkari termed the Commonwealth Games as a ?very big scam?, and said that the investigation should include all agencies of the Centre as well as of Delhi Government.
?Benami financial deals took place in CWG projects through the Mauritius route,? Gadkari told reporters here. “The JPC is needed to uncover the involvement of the political leadership. Out of the Rs 70,000 crore spent on the Games, only Rs 350 crore were spent on Indian sportspersons.”
Gadkari went on to add that the corruption ?started at the top?, and blamed the Congress party, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Cabinet for corruption allegations in the Games.
Gadkari questioned why the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and Union Cabinet did not verify before approving the “inflated budget” of various Games projects.
?Cost escalations of various CWG projects were approved by Cabinet and PMO. The whole Cabinet is responsible for the chaos and corruption in CWG,? Gadkari said.
Gadkari?s comments came hours after Income Tax sleuths raided the residence and office of BJP activist Sudhanshu Mittal.
“Peoples’ money was looted in the name of the Games and strict action must be taken against those involved in the scam. It is a very serious issue and the party will take the issue to the people,” he said.
