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Has Sheila Dikshit’s proximity to Sonia Gandhi helped the Delhi chief minister wriggle out of the Commonwealth Games scandal and put the blame squarely on Suresh Kalmadi?

Although Dikshit said corruption lied in the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee, Kalmadi, who is the panel’s chairman, retorted saying Dikshit should check corruption in her department first.

Kalmadi said, “We don’t want to be the scapegoat anymore. The Organising Committee is constantly being hauled up for the delays in construction when it was not involved in the works.”

Even the Central government seems to be riveting the spotlight on Kalmadi with regard to the corruption issue, excluding him from key Commonwealth Games meetings, which were attended by Dikshit.

So, should Dikshit own up (along with Kalmadi) and share the blame for the shoddy patch up of Delhi’s roads, incomplete flyover near the Commonwealth Games Village (Mayur Vihar Phase I), shooing away beggars and prohibiting Blueline buses to operate for two weeks forcing commuters to jostle for space in the few DTC buses.

Also, the area outside the Commonwealth Games Village was abysmal and the pavements in the vicinity (near the Yamuna bridge in ITO) were covered with banners to conceal the filth that lay beyond it.

Prime Minster Manmohan Singh, who is known for his clean image, has set up a probe within 24 hours of the Commonwealth Games by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG). Also, agencies such as the Central Vigilance Commission and the Income Tax department have started their independent scrutiny.

The Comptroller and Auditor General will start the audit work of Commonwealth Games Village from October 28 and probe allegations of financial irregularities.

The CAG will most likely audit the accounts of Delhi Development Authority and the expenditure incurred for constructing at the Commonwealth Games Village. It will also look into the alleged favours granted to a leading real estate group for various construction projects.

But will Sheila Dikshit be made to share the blame or can the Sonia connection help her come clean on the issue?