<p>It sent a notice of a breach of privilege to Speaker Meira Kumar against the minister “for giving biased information” on the appointment of Suresh Kalmadi as chairman of the Commonwealth Organising Committee.<br /><br />Addressing a press conference here, senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinha said he had sent two notices to the Speaker—one for suspending Question Hour and initiating a discussion on the August 2 statement of Maken that alleged an NDA role in Kalmadi’s appointment and another for his “breach of privilege” for providing only “convenient” information to Parliament.<br /><br />Sinha said though none of the opposition leaders demanded a statement, the minister chose to give a statement based “on leaked reports” of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG). “It was clearly a panic reaction,” he said.<br /><br />The CAG report was placed before Parliament on August 5 but the sports minister gave a suo motu statement on August 2, the BJP leader said. Quoting the CAG report, Sinha said in September 2004 the UPA government constituted a group of ministers (GoM) headed by senior Congress leader Arjun Singh and on October 25, 2004, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh attended the meeting of the GoM. Thereafter, Kamadi sent a letter to the GoM, seeking that he be appointed chairman of Commonwealth OC.<br /><br />Sinha said this letter was acknowledged by the prime minister on October 28, 2004, and sent to the Human Resources Development Ministry. On January 29, 2005, the GoM endorsed the view and acknowledged that the OC be headed by Kalmadi.<br /><br />The former finance minister said the Commonwealth Federation’s view was clear that Indian Olympic Association chairman (Kalmadi) should be the vice-chairman of the OC (not the chairman).<br /><br />Sinha alleged that Maken concealed crucial facts. Maken has argued that Kalmadi became OC Chairman on account of the decision taken during the NDA regime. Sinha said the sports minister had based his argument against the NDA government quoting a December 2003 “fake document” which was not endorsed by anyone and that surfaced in September 2004. The BJP leader quoted the CAG as saying that “the document is unauthorised.”</p>.<p>Sinha said the BJP leader said the UPA government is now also making a case that “it was only Kalmadi who did corruption and not the UPA”.<br /></p>
<p>It sent a notice of a breach of privilege to Speaker Meira Kumar against the minister “for giving biased information” on the appointment of Suresh Kalmadi as chairman of the Commonwealth Organising Committee.<br /><br />Addressing a press conference here, senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinha said he had sent two notices to the Speaker—one for suspending Question Hour and initiating a discussion on the August 2 statement of Maken that alleged an NDA role in Kalmadi’s appointment and another for his “breach of privilege” for providing only “convenient” information to Parliament.<br /><br />Sinha said though none of the opposition leaders demanded a statement, the minister chose to give a statement based “on leaked reports” of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG). “It was clearly a panic reaction,” he said.<br /><br />The CAG report was placed before Parliament on August 5 but the sports minister gave a suo motu statement on August 2, the BJP leader said. Quoting the CAG report, Sinha said in September 2004 the UPA government constituted a group of ministers (GoM) headed by senior Congress leader Arjun Singh and on October 25, 2004, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh attended the meeting of the GoM. Thereafter, Kamadi sent a letter to the GoM, seeking that he be appointed chairman of Commonwealth OC.<br /><br />Sinha said this letter was acknowledged by the prime minister on October 28, 2004, and sent to the Human Resources Development Ministry. On January 29, 2005, the GoM endorsed the view and acknowledged that the OC be headed by Kalmadi.<br /><br />The former finance minister said the Commonwealth Federation’s view was clear that Indian Olympic Association chairman (Kalmadi) should be the vice-chairman of the OC (not the chairman).<br /><br />Sinha alleged that Maken concealed crucial facts. Maken has argued that Kalmadi became OC Chairman on account of the decision taken during the NDA regime. Sinha said the sports minister had based his argument against the NDA government quoting a December 2003 “fake document” which was not endorsed by anyone and that surfaced in September 2004. The BJP leader quoted the CAG as saying that “the document is unauthorised.”</p>.<p>Sinha said the BJP leader said the UPA government is now also making a case that “it was only Kalmadi who did corruption and not the UPA”.<br /></p>
