Malhotra blasts government for CWG corruption

Indian Olympic Association vice-President and BJP leader VK Malhotra on Monday lambasted the Delhi government for the corruption and inordinate delays that have marred the build-up to the Commonwealth Games, saying none of the newly-built stadiums seem ready to host the October 3 to 14 event.

Malhotra, who is also the chief of the Archery Association of India and the General Association of National Sports Federations, said it was "shocking that despite spending huge amount of money, most of the stadiums are not fully ready."

Malhotra said it was disheartening to see Sports Minister MS Gill and Urban Development Minister Jaipal Reddy inaugurating the Rs 80 crore Weightlifting Stadium amid seepage and a leaking roof.

"There is a general sense of antipathy, cynicism, concern, worry about the Games. The common man on the street is worried not only about the massive corruption but also about the image of the country," he said.

"The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) has confirmed our worst fears which we had been expressing for last three years that there had been inordinate delay, corruption and compromise with the quality," he added.

CVC has pointed out large scale corruption in the construction work and Malhotra said the Delhi government should come out clean on the matter.

"Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dixit and Group of Ministers keep on making unnecessary statements that these games would be best ever. If everything is under control and the infrastructure would be ready in time then why is total panic in Delhi and Central Government," he asked.

"Mrs. Dixit is making naive statements like turning Delhi into a world class city before the start of the Games. She surprised everybody by making announcement that engineers would be given one month extra pay if the projects are completed in time. Then she made a statement that if projects are not completed in time the contractors will be fined and black listed.

"In fact the Chief Minister and her cabinet colleagues and Central minister involved in the preparations of the Games be black listed for their criminal negligence," he added.

Malhotra said the government owes an explanation to the nation as to why the work on all infrastructure projects was started as late as in 2008 after winning the bid in 2003.

"I had urged them to start working on the projects at least 30 times in the last four years in Lok Sabha, Delhi Vidhan Sabha and outside. I had cautioned them that delay appears to be deliberate as more the delay more the corruption and more the cost more compromise with the quality," he explained.