The Communist Party of India on Sunday demanded that the Centre constitute a high-level committee to probe the large-scale irregularities allegedly committed by Commonwealth Games Organising Committee.
D. Raja, party's national secretary, told TheHindu on the sidelines of the ongoing three-day State Executive Committee here that the allegations against the organisers of the Commonwealth Games were very serious. Several newspapers and media organisations had come out with credible evidence over the irregularities in awarding contracts for construction of infrastructure. It had to be thoroughly probed to bring out the truth.
Asked whether the probe against organisers at this juncture wouldn't slow down the preparations to the games, Mr. Raja said Rs.35000 crore had been earmarked for the event. It was not a small amount. It (probe) was not only important to bring out the truth but also to streamline the future payments. The CPI would raise the issue in the Parliament.
On current impasse in the Parliament over the price rise, he said it was up to the Central government to break the deadlock. If the government preferred not to allow the adjournment motion, it should come forward to discuss the issue in both the Houses of Parliament under sections 184 and 168. “We don't want to continue the impasse. The Parliament has to go. But the onus is with the Centre. Price rise is a burning issue,” Mr. Raja said.
He added that there were some informal steps from the government to find a solution to break the impasse. But the proposal should be acceptable to all Opposition parties.
Asked about the deteriorating law and order situation in Kashmir, Mr. Raja said the CPI was concerned about the senseless killing of youth in Kashmir Valley. It was distressing. The government should take proactive steps to talk to the parties concerned to bring the situation to normal. The Centre should win the confidence of people.
Ridiculing the “quite diplomacy” by the Home Ministry on Kashmir issue, Mr. Raja said it was mainly responsible for the present crisis. It had totally failed to handle the situation effectively.
Distant reality
At a function held here on Sunday, in which A.B. Bardhan, general secretary, CPI, declared open the new party office building, Mr. Raja said the truth was that in spite of several schemes and programmes, which consumed several crores of money in the name of development and welfare of the people, the needed infrastructure was a distant reality to many.
