Government will look into CWG graft charges: Congress

NEW DELHI - The Congress party Friday said government agencies would look into allegations of misappropriation of funds in preparations for the just-concluded Commonwealth Games, adding that the credit for the success of the sporting event should go to the “people of India”.

“Obviously as public money was spent, there is a natural audit process that kicks in when government money is spent. I expect the government bodies will deliver on their mandate,” Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari Tewari said, answering queries about the charges of corruption and delays in the run-up to the Oct 3-14 Games.

To a query if the Congress was giving a clean chit to Games Organising Committee chief Suresh Kalmadi, Tewari said the party was not in the business of giving “clean or unclean chits”.

“If there is any alleged misappropriation in spending of funds, that obviously needs to be probed. That was and is our stand… If there were any allegations of money not properly spent, they (government agencies) will perform responsibility to the country’s satisfaction,” he said.

He said if there were any cost or time over-runs, “only audit will reveal the details”.

Tewari said the party was satisfied with the conduct of the games and the security arrangements and congratulated the medal winners for their “amazing performance”.

Asked who deserved credit for the successful Games, Tewari said that the credit belonged to the people. “The credit goes to the people of India who had wished the Games all success.”

Asked if the Congress government in Delhi deserved credit, he said: “If Games have been successful, everybody has contributed.”

Congress leaders privately said that the spending on the Games would be scrutinised by various agencies, including the Comptroller and Auditor General of India and Central Vigilance Commissioner. They said that the public accounts committee of parliament could also look into the spending.