Maken sticks to statement on Kalmadi's appointment

"I am surprised and appalled by the privilege motion because I still stick to my statement which I made in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha," Maken said outside Parliament House.
The Minister questioned the Opposition's conduct in Parliament over the issue and said they should have sought a clarification from him on his statement.

"I am appalled to see, instead of seeking clarification on my statement, they are busy creating ruckus in the House and not letting me reply and there by giving me a breach of privilege notice.

"This is something which is unfortunate and if they allow me to speak in Parliament, I can give reply to what they are seeking," he told reporters.

Maintaining that he was 100 per cent sure and 100 per cent right on fact, Maken said the Host City contract signed during NDA rule led to the chairmanship of Suresh Kalmadi.
"The IOA on November 1, 2004 getting benefit from the Host City contract elected - not selected, not recommended - Suresh Kalmadi as Organising Committee chairman and the people who elected Kalmadi as Organising Committee chairman were Viajy Kumar Malhotra, Abhay Chautala, Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Tarlochan Singh --all from the NDA," he said.

Maintaining that the NDA Government was responsible for appointing Kalmadi as CWG Organising Committee chief, Maken said, "I am 100 per cent right and if they want any clarfication from my side, I am willing to give it on the floor of the House provided they give me an opportunity to do so.

"So, I am repeating my statement again what I said in Parliament," he said.
Asked about reports on PMO's involvement in appointing Kalmadi as chairman, Maken said, "I have gone through all the papers. Prime Minister's Office could not have done anything else, because the fate as far as the Organising Committee is concerned was sealed on 13th November 2003."

He said on September 11, 2003, the (NDA) Government took a decision that the IOA should be empowered to form the Organising Committee and "this empowered by this Host City contract, the IOA elected Kalmadi as Organising Committee Chairman on November 1, 2004."

"So the Prime Minister's Office could not have done anything other than this," he said.
The Minister also said the clarification which he was giving did not mean that anyone who is found guilty would be spared.

"Anyone, who found guilty--he would be or she would be-- taken to tasks. No one would be spared, if anyone is found guilty. Government has already filed 11 cases, if necessary, more cases would be filed," Maken said.