Delhi Dy Speaker demands probe into cultural showcase at Melbourne

New Delhi, Apr 8 (UNI) Delhi Assembly Deputy Speaker Shoaib Iqbal today demanded a probe into the allegations that Rs 29 crore were spent on the 11-minute cultural showcase of the country during the closing ceremony of the Melbourne Commonwewalth Games and accused Bollywood stars of receiving hefty amounts to participate in it.

Mr Iqbal, who was part of the Delhi government delegation at the Games, asked the Delhi Chief Secretary to stop payment of Rs nine crore to the Indian Olympic Association until the matter was fully investigated.

He claimed that Bollywood stars Aishwarya Rai and Rani Mukherjee were paid Rs two crore each for their performances while Priyanka Chopra and Lara Dutta got Rs one crore each for waing hands at the ceremony. Saif Ali Khan was paid Rs 75 lakh for his performance alongside Rani, he alleged.

He rued that all the ''luxury and comfort'' was provided to the stars even as the medallists from Indian contingent were being treated shabbily.

''This is a shame to demand such a huge amount from the association while one is there to represent and showcase the country,'' he said.

UNI SMA DH PDS PC1556