Govt to probe CWG corruption charges: Gill

Government on Thursday assured the Rajya Sabha that it will look into the charges of corruption in the Commonwealth Games projects in the national capital but ruled out setting up of an apex committee to oversee the Games.

"As far as corruption is concerned, government will take all actions. I will write to the authorities including Finance Minister (and request him) please go seriously into, if there is anything," Sports Minister M S Gill said in the Rajya Sabha.

Referring to the findings of the Central Vigilance Commission and CAG, he said the agencies must speed up action and "catch whoever is (responsible)".

However, he rejected demand from nominated member Mani Shankar Aiyar for a high-level committee on the lines of the one set up in the country for the 1982 Asian Games, stating "these committees serve nothing." In a dig at his predecessor, Gill said Aiyar "has vast international experience but I also have my administrative judgment. If more committees could solve the problem of the country, we could have 10 more, but that is not a solution".

Aiyar made the demand for an apex committee headed by Gill to oversee the functioning of the games "in view of the patent failure to deliver untainted and clear games". Gill said now that only 55 days are left for the games, there was no alternative but to host them with success.

"Have faith in India, India will get there....God is with us," Gill said adding all 13 major stadiums, including Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium are ready.

The CVC has found serious discrepancies like award of works at higher rates to bidders, poor quality of construction and grant of work to ineligible agencies in different Games-related construction works. Political parties such as BJP and CPI (M) demanded action against the guilty.