New Delhi, Dec 8 (IANS) A day after being expelled from the 2010 Commonwealth Games Organising Committee (CGOC), parliamentarian Vijay Goel accused the CGOC of being involved in corruption and slammed chairman Suresh Kalmadi for mishandling its management.
Goel said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh should intervene and save the country from losing face in front of the world.

Goel, an MP from the opposition BJP and also a former union sports minister, was expelled by the CGOC on charges of indiscipline after he organised a march Sunday to protest the delay in completion of Games’ infrastructure and overshooting of the budget.

“I am aware that there is corruption and mismanagement involved in the project work related to CWG,” Goel told reporters.

“Kalmadi is a very short-tempered person. He was involved in fights with CGF president Mike Fennell and CEO Mike Hooper and wants to do things his way.”

He said that he would meet the Prime Minister and will ask him to release an official document about the delays in completion of project and budgetary misappropriations.

“I will ask the Prime Minister to issue a white paper on whatever has happened till now on the preparation of the Games. I have met Mr. Fennell the last time he was here and if needed I would speak to him again.”

“The Organising Committee was formed in February 2005 and since then there has been complete lack of planning.”

“There is no accountability of the money being spent for the Commonwealth Games. The budget has been quadrupled but there is no transparency,” Goel told reporters.

“The country’s reputation is at stake.”

Goel said he was expelled because he tried to raise these issues during the Annual General Body meeting of the organising committee.