Will probe graft cases if voted to power, says Goel

With battlelines drawn for November Assembly election, Delhi BJP chief Vijay Goel on Sunday said major cases of alleged graft and financial bunglings during Sheila Dikshit’s rule, including CWG scam, will be probed, if BJP returns to power in the city.

“There will be no witch hunt. But if this government has done something wrong, then definitely we will order probe,” Goel said in an interview.

Exuding confidence of winning the election after three consecutive defeats, Goel said the party will fight the polls presenting an “alternative agenda” for inclusive growth for the city while taking “best components” from the development models of Gujarat, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh which are ruled by the BJP.

Alleging that Congress government in the city was involved in “massive corruption” and that people were fed up with the current dispensation, he said investigation will be ordered into major scams and irregularities if the BJP wins the election.

But at the same time Goel made it clear that there will be no question of witch hunt or vendetta.

When asked whether there will be investigation into scams in Commonwealth Games projects implemented by the Delhi government if BJP comes to power, he said, “Yes, definitely. We will definitely do (ordering probe) it. I was involved in CWG. I had started an agitation against corruption in hosting of the Commonwealth Games. When the CVC, CAG and the Prime Minister-appointed Shunglu Committee found it (graft), that means there was corruption.”

Those found guilty will be punished, he added. The CAG, Shunglu Committee and CVC had found alleged financial irregularities in number of CWG projects implemented by the Delhi government.

The Shunglu Committee had found alleged procedural violations even Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit in executing projects related to the 2010 Games. The Delhi Government, however, had strongly rejected the findings.

Asked about BJP’s campaign strategy for the Assembly polls, Goel said Narendra Modi will be the chief vote catcher for the party and claimed “there has been a wave” in his favour across the country, including in Delhi.

“There is a craze for Modi particularly among youngsters. People are saying under his leadership the country will progress. There is a wave in his favour across the country, including Delhi. He will make a huge impact in Delhi,” he said.

On whether party will project a chief ministerial candidate, Goel said there may be a “face” for the top post if the parliamentary board of BJP feels it will help win more seats.

“Presently, we do not have a face (for chief minister’s post). But after some days, we may have a face. The Parliamentary Board has to decide whether to project somebody or not to project. If the Parliamentary Board thinks we are going to get majority by projecting a face, then we are going to project a chief ministerial candidate,” he said.