New Delhi, October 18
The Group of Ministers (GoM) appointed to oversee the activities of the Organising Committee (OC) of the Commonwealth Games today endorsed the government’s decision to extend tenure of the committee till further orders. Usually, the OC winds up after the completion of the Games. However, the fresh move will enable the investigating agencies, including the CAG, the CVC, and the Enforcement Directorate, to probe corruption charges against the OC.

The development has taken place in the background of visible annoyance of both Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi with the committee over repeated allegations of corruption and irregularities in award of contracts.

Notably, the GoM, chaired by Urban Development Minister S Jaipal Reddy, was formed by the PM after reports of corruption and irregularities surfaced.

Apart from Reddy, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and Union Sports Minister MS Gill are also part of the GoM.

“Senior officials made available to the Organising Committee by the Government of India will be allowed to continue till further orders,” Reddy told reporters after the meeting.

The Sports Ministry will decide when to wind up the Organising Committee.He said the GoM expressed satisfaction over the successful conduct of the CWG and thanked people of India as well as people of Delhi for the “wholehearted support and contribution” in making the event a success. Reddy, however, chose not to be driven into the controversy over Dikshit and Kalmadi attacking at each other over the corruption allegations. “I don't have any right to advise any member,” he said.

New Delhi, October 18
The Congress today tried to play down the open sparring between its two senior leaders -- Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and Organising Committee (OC) chairperson Suresh Kalmadi -- by saying that everyone should exercise restraint as a fact-finding committee has already been set up by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to look into the conduct of the Games.

However even as Congress spokesman Manish Tewari answered questions on the open war of words between Dikshit and Kalmadi, the prevailing sense of disapproval within the party over the issue was apparent. “We would like everyone to be restrained so that the statutory body set to probe the conduct of the Games can discharge its duties,” Tewari said replying to questions on the party's response to the acrimony between its two senior leaders on the alleged corruption in the conduct of the Games.

Party leaders are upset with the way the situation is evolving between Dikshit and Kalmadi. They believe that the duo should not have made insinuations against each other publically and given extra fodder to the Opposition, which even otherwise is gunning for the ruling coalition on the issue. Mismanagement of the CWG and corruption associated with the mega event is expected to figure prominently in the coming winter session of Parliament.

A beleaguered Kalmadi yesterday hit back at Delhi Chief Minister, telling her to do some introspection and “check corruption in her own government” before pointing fingers at the CWG Organising Committee.

Dikshit on Saturday had said that the finger of suspicion over corruption was allegedly pointed at Kalmadi and that the probe would clear the “cobwebs”. Also, she dubbed as “mysterious” the manner of functioning of the Organising Committee.

Slamming Dikshit, Kalmadi said her aspersions on corruption in the OC were "most disappointing and uncalled for" and that she must do self-reflection on corruption in her own departments.