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New Delhi, Aug 10 (ANI): Former Sports Minister and Congress MP Mani Shankar Aiyar on Tuesday reacting on corruption charges against the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee hinted at the removal of Organising Committee Chairman Suresh Kalmadi, asserting that ‘no one is indispensable’.

“Hosting a clean Games should be the priority with less than two months to go for the event. No one is indispensable and we should give clean Games to the world,” said Aiyar, while talking to the media outside the Parliament.

Meanwhile, Congress General Secretary and in charge of Uttar Pradesh affairs Digvijay Singh today said Kalmadi should resign if found guilty of corruption related to the Games.

“The Central Vigilance Commission has handed over a case to the CBI. Prima facie, if there is indeed a case against Kalmadi, then he should resign on moral grounds,” said Singh.

He reiterated that if there is a prima facie case against Kalmadi, then to step down is the only logical thing to do.

Aiyar had on August 4 called for the formation of a high-level committee to ensure that a ‘clean and successful’ 2010 Commonwealth Games is held.

Kalmadi, had, however, reacted to Aiyar’s remarks, calling it as ‘irresponsible and anti national’.

Earlier on July 29, Aiyar pledged that he will not speak about the Commonwealth Games for the moment, but after October 15.

According to media reports, Kalmadi has provided more fodder for a united opposition attack on the government.
In a report, the Times of India claimed that it had procured enough evidence to prove that Kalmadi cleared payments due to AM Films without a written contract or proper tender process.

The newspaper report alleges that more emails and faxed documents point to Kalmadi’s involvement.

AM Films and AM Car and Van Hire reportedly received 247,000 pounds. Businessman Ashish Patel and Commonwealth Committee members, however, said that it was done for the 2009 Queen’s Baton ceremony.

Meanwhile, following a plea by the Union Sports Ministry, the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee (CGOC) has terminated the services of its Joint Director General T S Darbari over charges of corruption.

Darbari has been asked to hand over charge to Additional Director General VK Saxena.

The Sports Ministry said it was not pleased with just Darbari’s suspension and wrote several letters to the Organising Committee seeking his ouster. (ANI)