BJP stages protest march over corruption in 2010 Commonweatlh Games preparations

New Delhi, Aug.2 (ANI): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) staged a protest march here on Monday to highlight public concern and outrage at the widespread corruption being exposed almost every other day in several projects related to the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

Hundreds of party workers carrying party flags and placards participated in the protest, as BJP's Delhi Unit led by Vijender Gupta took to streets along with BJP MP Vijay Goel today in the national capital.

The protest march was taken out from Jantar Mantar to the Parliament.

The leaders demanded probe should be conducted into the corruption charges being leveled against the Commowealth Games' Organising Committee and the poor construction of various stadiums.

"We are demanding that in the name of the commonwealth games, the rampant corruption that is taking place, the budget that was initially 1899 crore have shot up to Rs 87,000 crores, these should be exposed. We demand a probe in the corruption allegations and the soaring budget of the games," said senior BJP leader Vijay Goel

Goel said that BJP was not against organisation of the Commonwealth Games but the way common man's money being misused that needs to be investigated.

"We are all in favour of Commonwealth Games because it was brought during the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) regime, when I was the Sports Minister. But now they have broken the dreams of the common man and the money of the common man has been splurged like water, this should be investigated," Goel added.

Police used water cannon and mild force to disperse the protestors, as they tried to break the barricades put near the Parliament House.

Accusing the organizers of the Commonwealth Games of gulping thousands of crores of taxpayers' money, Vijender Gupta alleged that the delay in the games related projects has been deliberately caused by the organizers to make money.

"Thousands of crore has been guzzled through corruption, inferior quality has been used, they (organizing authorities) are buying things at higher prices and ineligible companies are being used to get the work done," said Gupta.

BJP leaders also lashed out at the Central Government for compromising with the country's prestige.

Media reports have recently questioned the quality of the infrastructure and poor preparation of the Games' venues.

The Central Vigilance Commission in its preliminary report has reportedly found irregularities in several Commonwealth Games related works being carried out by civic and construction agencies.

The Commonwealth Games 2010 will be held from 3 to 14 October in national capital.The 12-day sporting extravaganza will be India's biggest sporting event since the 1982 Asian Games in New Delhi. (ANI)