New Delhi:
The issue of alleged large-scale corruption in the Commonwealth Games (CWG) projects on Friday rocked Lok Sabha with the entire Opposition uniting to attack the government and accusing it of allowing "loot" of public money.
Members of the BJP, JD(U), Left parties and Samajwadi Party targetted the government on the issue, with the Left demanding a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to probe charges of corruption in the games projects.
Urban Development Minister S Jaipal Reddy was not allowed to respond to the charges by an angry Opposition, which wanted the reply only after a full-fledged debate.
After an hour-long impromptu debate, Speaker Meira Kumar adjourned the House ahead of the lunch recess as heated exchanges between Opposition and treasury benches continued with the latter protesting vociferously for not listening to the government's version.
CPI(M) leader Basudeb Acharia demanded setting up of a JPC on the "large-scale corruption scam", alleging that while a cricket stadium in Hyderabad was constructed at Rs 90 crore, the renovation of Jawaharlal Nehru stadium in Delhi cost over Rs 961 crore.
"There is no accountability. No one has been held responsible. Government says it does not have money to supply food grains," Acharia said, with Gurudas Dasgupta (CPI) saying this was "a loot of public money" as over Rs 50,000 crore was being spent on the games.
Seeking to counter the Opposition, Congress member Sanjay Nirupam said it does not be hove some of the Opposition leaders to talk about corruption, a statement that led to protests.
"You can't hang a person against whom charges have been made without trial".
Dasgupta said "it is a matter of shame, of dereliction of duty. This government is unable to manage rising prices. At least, they should manage the games properly". India's dignity was being lowered in the international forum by reports of corruption in the CWG projects, he added.
Raising the issue during Zero Hour, he recalled that in the 1982 Asian Games, then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was personally monitoring the projects by visiting the sites.
"What is happening today is total chaos and disaster, bringing the country to shame. ... You (government) are proving to the world that India is incapable of holding the games. Shame," he said.
Noting that he respected the independent status of the sports bodies responsible for organising the games, he said "they can't hold the country to ransom. The government is responsible."
JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav said the CWG was "a game of
(erstwhile) colonial nations" and it was being organised in a "frivolous manner".
The JD(U) chief and his SP counterpart Mulayam Singh Yadav claimed that the actual cost of hosting the CWG was around Rs one lakh crore, which was being spent in a surreptitious manner.
Sharad Yadav said he was even ready to prove the charge.
The SP chief later led a walkout of his party colleagues demanding that the Prime Minister should make a statement on the entire matter.
His party colleague Rewati Raman Singh said that with only 57 days left for the games to start, there was uncertainty over whether the event could actually be held.
Former cricketer and BJP member Kirti Azad lamented that no one was bothered as to how many medals India would be able to win at the games when so much of money was being spent.
He said when Indian cricket team won the World Cup in 1985, "we had put in so much of effort, not to earn money but to enhance the prestige of the country. It was only a feeling of nationalism which had pervaded amongst us (team members) then".
Azad also pointed towards his former team member Mohammad Azharuddin of the Congress, prodding him also to have his say.
Members of the BJP, JD(U), Left parties and Samajwadi Party targetted the government on the issue, with the Left demanding a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to probe charges of corruption in the games projects.
Urban Development Minister S Jaipal Reddy was not allowed to respond to the charges by an angry Opposition, which wanted the reply only after a full-fledged debate.
After an hour-long impromptu debate, Speaker Meira Kumar adjourned the House ahead of the lunch recess as heated exchanges between Opposition and treasury benches continued with the latter protesting vociferously for not listening to the government's version.
CPI(M) leader Basudeb Acharia demanded setting up of a JPC on the "large-scale corruption scam", alleging that while a cricket stadium in Hyderabad was constructed at Rs 90 crore, the renovation of Jawaharlal Nehru stadium in Delhi cost over Rs 961 crore.
"There is no accountability. No one has been held responsible. Government says it does not have money to supply food grains," Acharia said, with Gurudas Dasgupta (CPI) saying this was "a loot of public money" as over Rs 50,000 crore was being spent on the games.
Seeking to counter the Opposition, Congress member Sanjay Nirupam said it does not be hove some of the Opposition leaders to talk about corruption, a statement that led to protests.
"You can't hang a person against whom charges have been made without trial".
Dasgupta said "it is a matter of shame, of dereliction of duty. This government is unable to manage rising prices. At least, they should manage the games properly". India's dignity was being lowered in the international forum by reports of corruption in the CWG projects, he added.
Raising the issue during Zero Hour, he recalled that in the 1982 Asian Games, then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was personally monitoring the projects by visiting the sites.
"What is happening today is total chaos and disaster, bringing the country to shame. ... You (government) are proving to the world that India is incapable of holding the games. Shame," he said.
Noting that he respected the independent status of the sports bodies responsible for organising the games, he said "they can't hold the country to ransom. The government is responsible."
JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav said the CWG was "a game of
(erstwhile) colonial nations" and it was being organised in a "frivolous manner".
The JD(U) chief and his SP counterpart Mulayam Singh Yadav claimed that the actual cost of hosting the CWG was around Rs one lakh crore, which was being spent in a surreptitious manner.
Sharad Yadav said he was even ready to prove the charge.
The SP chief later led a walkout of his party colleagues demanding that the Prime Minister should make a statement on the entire matter.
His party colleague Rewati Raman Singh said that with only 57 days left for the games to start, there was uncertainty over whether the event could actually be held.
Former cricketer and BJP member Kirti Azad lamented that no one was bothered as to how many medals India would be able to win at the games when so much of money was being spent.
He said when Indian cricket team won the World Cup in 1985, "we had put in so much of effort, not to earn money but to enhance the prestige of the country. It was only a feeling of nationalism which had pervaded amongst us (team members) then".
Azad also pointed towards his former team member Mohammad Azharuddin of the Congress, prodding him also to have his say.
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