CWG Scam: BJP puts Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in firing line on Suresh Kalmadi's appointment as CWG Organising Committee chairman

NEW DELHI: BJP today attacked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for appointment of disgraced Suresh Kalmadi as Chairman of the CWG Organising Committee and charged Sports Minister Ajay Maken with committing "monumental deception" on Parliament.

Initiating a short duration discussion on Maken's statement on August 3 regarding the CWG, Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh overruled objections by the Sports Ministry and his own office and favoured Kalmadi's appointment as OC Chairman.

Demanding that all documents and files in this regard be brought before the House, Jaitley said while the effort was to stop the buck at Kalmadi, responsibility lies both with the Central and statement governments. "....none of them should be spared."

He also said if "heads are to roll", heads of the state (Delhi) government and the Centre must also roll.

Jaitley said Maken is giving an impression as if the hands of the UPA were tied in the OC chief's appointment because of the Host City Contract signed during the NDA regime.

Complimenting former Sports Minister M S Gill, Jaitley said, "Former ministers are the best witnesses. House has to take extraordinary steps...all files and documents which have been withheld should be summoned and inspected in the House."

He said former sports ministers acted as whistle blowers. Amid clashes between the Congress and the BJP, the House had to be adjourned twice before lunch as ruling party members demanded apology from the opposition party for raising slogans against UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi. Deputy Chairman K Rahman Khan also objected to the name calling.