9.8.11

CAG exceeding mandate: Congress

Facing opposition heat over the CAG report on alleged irregularities in the Commonwealth Games, Congress launched a frontal attack on the auditor raising questions over its mandate to comment on the government’s appointment process and policy issues. It alleged that CAG had suo motu decided to extend its jurisdiction. AICC spokesman Manish Tewari said: “Does CAG have the remit to comment on an appointment process as also the policy choices which a government makes or may not make? Even when it chooses to comment on the appointment process in the context of the Games, it errs.” Making a strong comment on the functioning of CAG, he said it could be best termed as “pips, leaks and squeaks”. The party has been on the back foot since the opposition led by BJP demanded the sacking of Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit and sought answers on the PMO’s role in Suresh Kalmadi’s appointment as chief of the Games Organising Committee, citing the CAG report indictment. Tewari blamed CAG for ignoring three very crucial dates in its report. These dates were September 11, 2003, when the host city contract for the CWG was approved by the Cabinet; November 13, 2003, when the host city contract was signed; and November 1, 2004, when the IOA general assembly, which consisted of many NDA personalities, decided to elect Kalmadi OC chief. “Were these omissions intentional? Was it a case of oversight? Or CAG chose to overlook these dates — two of which took place during NDA time?” Tewari asked. Defending Dikshit, he said: “There isn’t even whisper of an insinuation on the issue of probity of the chief minister. If there is any alleged financial loss, the Public Accounts Committee needs to look into it.” Attacking the opposition for dragging the PMO into the controversy on the appointment of Kalmadi, he blamed the NDA regime for the mess. “PMO has no role in the appointment of Kalmadi as chairman of OC, which was a ‘fait accompli’ due to documents signed by NDA government.”

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