Corruption - CWG -1

NEW DELHI: The Games are over and the fighting has begun. A day after chief minister Sheila Dikshit said corruption in the Games preparations appeared to stem from the Organizing Committee, its chairperson Suresh Kalmadi hit out at her, saying she should look at her own departments. Blasting Dikshit's "attempt to take credit" for salvaging the Games Village, Kalmadi stated bluntly, "We don't want to be the scapegoats anymore."

He also pointed out that the panel headed by former CAG V K Shunglu would probe not just the work undertaken by "the OC at a budget of Rs 1,620 crore but also the Rs 16,000 crore spent by the Delhi government". Squarely blaming the Delhi government for much of the flak the OC got, Kalmadi said: "The OC was constantly being criticized for delays and shoddy work when they were not at all involved in any construction activity... When the foot overbridge near the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium collapsed, it led to doubts about safety... We had to do a lot of hand-holding and cajoling to ensure that the full complement of 71 nations and territories took part in the Games."

Kalmadi's statement -- which he pointedly issued on Dussehra-- followed his exclusion from functions hosted by both the PM and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi to felicitate CWG medal-winners. In it, he also mentioned that the Prime Minister's Office deputed a number of officers, including CEO Jarnail Singh, to work with the Organizing Committee. The import was clear: he's not going to silently accept all the blame for the messy preparations.

Many in the government and political circles are likely to agree with Kalmadi that the Group of Ministers, Cabinet Secretariat and the PMO should also be held accountable for the shoddy work that gave India many anxious moments.

However, Kalmadi chose to focus his attack on Dikshit even as he draped himself in national colours, possibly because he did not want to open too many fronts simultaneously. Besides, his attack on the CM may find support among many who have been resentful of the way Dikshit walked away with the credit for the successful Games.

"The Games have succeeded because of the efforts of Team India, including a large number of people and agencies and not any individual. Mrs Dikshit's attempt to take credit for getting the Games Village ready in time does not fit with the team concept. The Lieutenant Governor of Delhi and the OC, who were preparing the Village for over two years, coordinated the work of a number of agencies to ensure that it was entirely ready to welcome the athletes," said Kalmadi.

The pointed reference to the L-G follows a recent letter by Tejinder Khanna to the PM, protesting against Dikshit's alleged projection of herself as the `rock star' who turned around the Village. Many in the government and within the Congress share Khanna's heartburn. Statements by the like of CWG England president Kelly Holmes that England and Scotland only came to the Games because of Dikshit's efforts have only increased their angst.

In his statement, an angry Kalmadi singled out the CM's allegations, saying her "aspersions on corruption in the OC" were "disappointing" and "uncalled for". "It is not right to deflect and point fingers at others when she must indulge in self-reflection on corruption in her own departments," he said. "She has said that the ways of the OC are mysterious whereas Commonwealth Games chief Michael Fennell declared the conduct of the Games exceptional and successful."

Warning his detractors that "keeping quiet should not be interpreted as a sign of weakness" or guilt, Kalmadi insisted that transparency and accountability remained the watchwords in the OC. "We are confident that the guilty will not be spared irrespective of which agency they belong to," he said, adding that the OC had already welcomed the PM's decision for a high-level inquiry.

Claiming that the OC's responsibility was confined to conduct and delivery of the Games, Kalmadi said the organizers had done their job. "I am proud that the world has declared that conduct of the Games was faultless, with all competitions being held as per schedule... The execution of these plans was impeccable. It led Organising Committee to deliver spectacular Opening and Closing Ceremonies that were overseen by the Group of Ministers," adds Kalmadi's statement.

Kalmadi's attack marks the end of the pact of silence among those responsible for the Games. It is likely to lead to much airing of dirty linen but may be welcomed by those who hope that the strife will ensure that the truth comes out in all its complexity.

War has broken out between the different corrupt leaders associated with the CWG.
Watch this space closely as the mystery unfolds.