With C'Wealth Games over, BJP ups ante over corruption charges

With the 2010 Commonwealth Games coming to an end, the BJP today said it will "pursue" the alleged delay and corruption in Games preparations vigorously as reflected by the "mood of the people".

"The jury of the people is out. They cheered each player and artist but they jeered and booed Kalmadi and company. This shows the mood of the nation. So we will pursue issues of corruption and mismanagement in delays in preparations," BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said.

The principal opposition had raised the issue of "delay and corruption" in Games preparations in a big way both inside and outside Parliament. However, when the Games began, the party brought down the tempo of its criticisms with senior BJP leader LK Advani saying "as an Indian" he wanted the event to be a success. He even praised the grand opening ceremony.

BJP and its NDA allies had decided to wait for the Games to get over and then demand inquiries into alleged wrong-doings and corruption to avoid bad press in the international media and not to endanger the country's prestige, party sources said.

The party intends to highlight the issue after Dussehra, the sources said.

Other than the organising committee headed by Suresh Kalmadi, the Sheila Dikshit government in Delhi, the Union urban development ministry and various government organisations were involved in the Games' projects.