PM, Sonia's felicitation events were for medallists only: Cong

NEW DELHI: Congress today sought to distance itself from the issue of CWG Organising Committee chief Suresh Kalmadi being left out of two felicitation programmes, saying only medal winners were invited to the events hosted by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi.

"Only the medal winners had been invited and not the Organising Committee," party spokesman Mohan Prakash said when asked why was Kalmadi not invited by Singh and Gandhi in their interaction with the medal-winning athletes.

Prakash said that the government has already ordered a probe into the allegations of irregularities and corruption soon after the mega event was over.

"The entire country and world have praised the hosting of the Games... But the government has also ordered an investigation into allegations of irregularities as per its commitment for transparency," the spokesman said.

Singh met the Indian medal winners in the Commonwealth Games yesterday while Gandhi met them today. Kalmadi was conspicuous by his absence in both the meetings.

Congress has made it clear that irregularities in the conduct of the Games would not be glossed over and those found guilty would be brought to book.

Kalmadi is also the Secretary of the Congress Parliamentary Party and member of the Lok Sabha from Pune.