CWG scam: Govt. has been pro-active, says Maken

New Delhi, Oct 5 (ANI): Asserting that the government has been pro-active on the probe conducted into various scams surrounding the 2010 Commonwealth Games, Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Ajay Maken on Wednesday reiterated that anyone found guilty in connection with the extravaganza won't be spared.

Responding to a question on the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducting a preliminary inquiry into the irregularities in appointments in the Organising Committee against Suresh Kalmadi and his other associates, Ajay Maken said: "CBI has so far registered 20 cases against various people as far as the Commonwealth Games are concerned. And, right in the beginning, as a government, we had said that no one who has been found guilty would be spared."

"Shunglu Committee has submitted its report, CAG's report is also there, CBI is also inquiring into it, CVC is also looking into it. Around 20 cases have been registered by the CBI; around 60 people have been booked by the CBI on the Commonwealth Games. And this is something, which has happened without any court's interference, it has happened because the government has been pro-active and again let me assure you that anyone found guilty would not be spared," he added.

The CBI had earlier this month registered a preliminary enquiry to look into complaints that Kalmadi, in his capacity as the chairman of the Games OC, stuffed it with people owing allegiance to him, ignoring recruitment procedures and the selection process.

The enquiry was registered to find if Kalmadi packed the Organising Committee of the Commonwealth Games with his cronies, particularly those from his constituency.

When asked about the various steps taken to promote Indian sports, Maken said: "As far as sports are concerned, not only football but other games as well, the Commonwealth Games stadias, which we had constructed all these stadias would be put up for optimum utilization. Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, we have decided to make it as a football hub. So, when we say football hub, the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium would be used, we have asked the All India Football Federation to come up here and we have signed a MoU with them. I am very happy to know that they have agreed on reeling the pitch to international standard."

Maken further said the government is all charged up to help the football federation to promote football in the country.

"We have said that we will give you 40 days in a year to organise various tournaments here. The practice pitch is also outside, which the All India Football Federation can use for its purposes. We are also looking into their demands that there should be a hostel for the football academy if it comes up," said Maken.

"All such infrastructural facilities, we are ready to give it to football because first of all we feel that football has a great future in our country. And secondly, the infrastructure, which we have in our country can best be utilized with the help of sports federations. And in any way we are willing to help the football federation to bring up football," he added.

When asked about steps being taken by the Sports Ministry to get rid of problems that exist in hockey, Maken said: " I welcome the IOA's intervention and their initiative as far as bringing together the IHF and Hockey India is concerned. On 14th of this month, we have kept a meeting of IOA, Hockey India and the IHF and we will try that they all come at a meeting point.

The Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) on Tuesday demanded that the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) restore its pre-2008 status as the sole governing body for hockey in India towards settling the dispute that is threatening India's Olympic participation.

At a meeting convened by the IOA here on Tuesday to find a way out of the hockey mess, the IHF suggested that the IOA could revoke the disaffiliation of the IHF and then only there could be a lasting solution to the problem that has gripped Indian hockey for more than three years.

The International Hockey Federation (FIH) had recently held out a threat that India's participation in the London Olympic Games hockey competition could be in jeopardy if the dispute was not settled soon. (ANI)