BJP promises probe into alleged scams during Sheila Dikshit's rule

NEW DELHI: Amid stepped up political activity in the city, newly-appointed Delhi BJP chief Satish Upadhyay today said all major cases of alleged corruption and financial bunglings during Congress rule, including in Commonwealth Games projects, will be thoroughly probed if his party comes to power in the national capital.

Asserting that there will be no witch hunt, Upadhyay said the city's image had suffered immensely because of the alleged scams and it will be the "responsibility" of the new government to probe them to punish the guilty.

"Definitely," he replied to a query on whether BJP would order thorough investigations into cases of alleged corruption during the 15-year tenure of Congress government headed by Sheila Dikshit if it comes to power. "It is a responsibility to probe the scams. Definitely we will probe the scams. There will be thorough investigation," he told PTI.

52-year old Upadhyay also indicated that there may be a review of Congress government's decision to trifurcate the Municipal Corporation of Delhi in 2012.

In a meeting with Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Upadhyay today said then Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit had trifurcated the MCD without ensuring proper staff, financial viability and other administrative requirements.

BJP has already hinted that it was ready to form a government if invited by Lt Governor Najeeb Jung. At the same time, the party maintains that it was "fully ready" to face fresh elections in Delhi.

Asked whether inquiry will be ordered against BJP-ruled MCD as a number of CWG projects implemented by the civic body were also investigated by CBI, he said the probe will include all the agencies against whom there were complaints of wrong doings.

The CAG, Shunglu Committee and CVC had found alleged financial irregularities in number of CWG projects implemented by Delhi Government. The Shunglu Committee had found alleged procedural violations even by then chief minister Sheila Dikshit in executing projects related to the 2010 Games. The Delhi Government, however, had strongly rejected the findings.

Ahead of assembly polls in December last year, BJP had said it will set up an accountability commission to probe various alleged scams during Congress' 15 year rule. In February, the AAP government had ordered a probe into the alleged irregularities into procurement of street light which was a Commonwealth Games project in which Dikshit's role had come under the scanner.