CM keeps mum on Games corruption as Opposition raises pitch

'Sheila doesn't like monsoon'

CM keeps mum on Games corruption as Opposition raises pitch

Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit had assured strict action against those involved in corruption relating to the Commonwealth Games projects and apologised to the Delhiites for the inconvenience being faced by them.

BJP MLAs beat utensils during a protest outside the Vidhan Sabha on the
first day of its monsoon session in New Delhi on Tuesday. pic/imtiyaz khan

But that was an Independence Day speech. When the matter was raised by an agitated Opposition in the Delhi assembly on the first day of the Monsoon Session, Dikshit chose to keep quiet and asked her close aide Raj Kumar Chauhan to handle the situation instead.

Principal Opposition BJP had been protesting outside the assembly since morning and the scenes inside the House were no different. It was left to the PWD Minister to salvage the situation and he was entrusted with the responsibility of explaining the government's side.

The House was adjourned twice as BJP legislators demanded suspension of Question Hour and a detailed discussion on alleged financial irregularities and delays in completion of Games projects.

During the House proceedings as well as outside the assembly where they held a huge dharna, BJP members attacked Delhi government for inflation and the laxity inu00a0 preparedness for the Games.

BJP leader V K Malhotra held Sheila Dikshit solely responsible for "the financial bunglings in Games projects" and "tardy preparation for the event" as she is the chief minister.

Replying to the debate, Chauhan rejected the allegations of corruption and said no irregularities have been pointed out so far in any of the CWG projects being implemented by the Delhi government.
"No corruption has taken place in any of the projects," he maintainedx.

Marshal law

Six opposition MLAs, including the lone BSP legislator, were forcefully evicted from Delhi Assembly on Tuesday for violating the decorum of the House. Speaker Yoganand Shastri first ordered the removal of four BJP MLAs who resorted to beating stainless steel utensils to draw his attention. The BJP MLAs were demanding suspension of Question Hour to discuss allegations of corruption and financial irregularities in Commonwealth Games projects. Disallowing the protest, the Speaker asked Assembly Marshals to remove Ramesh Bidhuri, S C L Gupta, Kulwant Rana and Manoj Shokeen from the House. BSP MLA Mohammed Asif was forcefully removed from the House after he voiciferously tried to raise the issue of increasing number of dengue cases in his Okhla constituency. The Speaker said since he has decided to do away with discussion under Rule 280 to facilitate a debate regarding preparation for the Games, Asif should not insist on raising the issue under the same. He asked the Marshals to remove Asif from the House after he did not heed to Shastri's repeated pleas. BJP MLA Karan Singh Tanwar was also evicted from the House when he did not follow the Speaker's directions not to speak during the discussion on Commonwealth Games.