Kalmadi wants JPC into CWG scam

New Delhi, Feb 20 (PTI) Sacked Commonwealth GamesOrganising Committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi today demanded aJPC probe into all issues relating to the mega sporting eventamid reports that CBI has tracked an email alleging that hegot kickbacks.

In a statement on the eve of the start of the BudgetSession of Parliament, an embattled Kalmadi said he wouldresign as Member of Parliament in case any proof of him havingtaken even a single rupee surfaces.

Kalmadi also said he was "deeply pained andconstrained" at the "malicious campaign" going against himregarding Commonwealth Games 2010. "The stories going aroundare far from actual facts," he said.

"Were the government to agree to constitution of a JPCinto the 2G Spectrum issue it would only be fair a similarprocess of Joint Parliamentary Committee should go into theentire range of issues connected with preparations, executionsand conduct of the Commonwealth Games. I am confident thatthis would enable the entire truth to emerge in the publicdomain," said Kalmadi.

According to reports, the CBI probing the corruptiontrail in the Commonwealth Games has tracked an email that, itsofficials say, is the first specific allegation of kickbackspaid to Kalmadi.

"I can vouch that I have not gained financially even asingle rupee out of these games and if proved otherwise I amprepared to step down as a Member of Parliament," Kalmadisaid.

The IOA president, who is an MP from Pune, re-iteratedhis oft-repeated claim that the OC budget was a very smallamount of the total fund sanctioned for the CommonwealthGames.

"The OC budget for conducting the Games was just about5 per cent of the total budget of CWG. In spite of this, I amthe only one who have been singled out and targeted forinvestigations while the role of all other government agenciesincluding Delhi Government and various other CentralGovernment instrumental agencies connected with the decisionmaking process, who have been associated with 95 per cent ofthe budget, have been completely overlooked," Kalmadi said.

"The sports fraternity -- from athletes to officialsand international media -- have lauded the success of theGames and termed it the best ever CWG. Yet, my reputation hasbeen greatly harmed by the continuous allegations of wrongdoing with regular media bashing.

"It is a well known fact that even though the gameswere awarded in 2003, the actual work towards the gamesstarted somewhere in 2008, with the paucity of time on oneside and reputation of country on the other side, there werepressures to complete and achieve target and deadline of 3October 2010,"said Kalmadi.