Congress on Monday strongly disapproved the war of words between Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and Commonwealth Games panel chief Suresh Kalmadi. Since the Prime Minister has given the responsibility to probe the conduct of the Games to a former Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG),everyone concerned should observe restrain,Congress spokesman Manish Tewari said. He was replying to questions on the party's response to trading of charges by Dikshit and Kalmadi on alleged corruption in the conduct of the Games. On Saturday,Dikshit had said that the 'suspicion' of corruption in the just-concluded mega sporting event is on the Games Organising Committee(OC). The "real corruption seems to be with regard to the money given as loans (to the OC)," she said. Central government had given loans to the tune of Rs 1,600 crore. Slamming Dikshit,a beleaguered Kalmadi said her aspersions on corruption in the OC were "most disappointing and uncalled for" and that she must do self-reflection on corruption in her own departments. A senior Congress leader said the open war of words between Dikshit and Kalmadi was 'unfortunate' and 'totally uncalled for.' The leader said the inquiry ordered by the Prime Minister gives wide powers to the investigator who could recommend further inquiry by the CBI or the CVC or departmental action. The leader also said that apart from the charges of misappropriation of funds,which are bound to be looked into,matters like unnecessary delays in execution of projects and the steps which led to the country getting a bad name outside are also likely to be under scanner. He said that the since the probe committee is headed by a former CAG,he is not bound by the Terms of Reference and can beyond to investigate all other matters.
