PM calls meeting to discuss CWG preparations

NEW DELHI: Against the backdrop of a spate of controversies surrounding the Commonwealth Games, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will hold a meeting with the ministers concerned this evening to review preparations for the mega event to be held in October.

The meeting will be attended by Sports Ministers MS Gill, Urban Development Minister Jaipal Reddy, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and others involved, official sources said.

The meeting assumes significance in view of questions being raised over the state of preparedness for the sports event and allegations of corruption surrounding it.

Organising CommitteechairmanSuresh Kalmadi is in the eye of a storm because of the allegations.

The Prime Minister's action came a day after the Congress top brass, including party chief Sonia Gandhi, deliberated on the matter at the meeting of the party's Core Group.

During the discussions in Parliament on the Games this week, there were suggestions that the Government appoint a high-level committee on the lines of the one formed during the 1982 Asian Games which was headed by late Rajiv Gandhi with the then Sports Minister Buta Singh working under him along other officials.

However, the Sports Minister had turned down the proposal.

The BJP on Friday demanded that the Prime Minister speak on the issue failing which it would press for suspension of Question Hour in both Houses of Parliament on Monday.