New Delhi: Delhi Assembly became the first legislature in the country to open a committee proceeding to the media on Saturday.
The Special Inquiry Committee, which was set up after the assembly passed a resolution to this effect in June 13, probed the alleged irregularities in sports bodies that are administering cricket and hockey in Delhi.
Suspended BJP MP Kirti Azad and former cricketer Bishen Singh Bedi made their statements before the committee on Saturday.
The nine-member panel, headed by AAP MLA Saurabh Bhardwaj, heard the testimonials of Kirti Azad, Bishen Singh Bedi, Surinder Khanna and Sameer Bahadur in front of rolling cameras.
This is the latest chapter in the ongoing legal and political battle between Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley which was sparked by the CBI raid on Delhi Secretariat last December.
The proceedings of the Special Inquiry Committee was opened to the press on an experimental basis on Saturday.
Azad led the charge reiterating charges of massive irregularities in the governance of Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) which included no elections for six to seven years, tendering process, pay offs to fifteen fake companies, fake birth certificates being submitted for aspiring cricketers.
Targeting Arun Jaitley, Azad had said, "We wrote 200 letters to Arun Jaitley but we got no reply”. Jaitley was the president of DDCA from 1999 to 2013. Azad also wanted to know from the panel why had the Delhi government had not filed an FIR against the DDCA even after his complaint that liquor was served on October 2, 2013 contrary to the provisions in law.
Azad came down heavily on the Delhi police for alleged inaction on FIRs and on the MCD for alleged cheating in collection of entertainment tax.
Bishen Singh Bedi wanted to know from the panel if it was serious about promoting a sports culture in the city. There was a moment of unease when Bedi asked the panel how many of them had read the Justice Lodha Panel report in detail.
Keeping in mind the defamation case that Arun Jaitley had filed against Arvind Kejriwal, AAP MLAs told Azad that 'CM quoted you', to which Azad replied he would be defense witness in the case when the trial begins.
Earlier, Azad also had turned down a suggestion by Saurabh Bhardwaj that each of them depose before the panel separately.
The special inquiry committee is expected to submit its report along with recommendations to the House when it meets for the sixth session, that is nearly two months from now. The committee, in its report is expected to recommend measures to be taken to the Delhi Government, which the latter may accept or reject. Recommendations could range from filing of FIRs to steps for improving sports in the city. Incidentally, the nine member panel does not have a member from the BJP.
The intent of the government is to open up proceedings of all committees in the future. Sources said that many attempts were made in Parliament to open up proceedings of various committees formed by Parliament to the media and therefore to the people but it has not worked out until now.
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