Sports ministry cleared Sacheti`s name as advisor: Manohar Parrikar

Panaji: Amid controversy over the appointment of tainted Commonwealth Games official, Rajkumar Sacheti as "advisor" for this year`s Lusofonia Games, the Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar today said his government had no alternative but to go ahead as Sacheti`s name was cleared by Union Sports Ministry.

Parrikar also justified the appointment which was objected by opposition Congress in the state. "Sacheti`s role was restricted to advisory capacity only and not in decision making. Government will take action if he is (formally) accused or chargesheeted (in the scam)", Parrikar said feb-20-13 Parrikar, who is chairing the Lusofonia Games (Portuguese Common Wealth Games), scheduled to be held in Goa this November, said that Sacheti`s name was recommended by the Secretary General of CWG Organising Committee. "The name was cleared by union sports ministry. Goa government had asked for names from the CWG OC for advisor for Lusofonia Games. However, only one name came and we had no alternative", the chief minister said. Sacheti, who was found misusing his official position as Joint DG, CWG by the Central Vigilance Commission and a close aide of under trial CWG OC chairman Suresh Kalmadi, has been appointed as advisor by the state government, along with another CWG official V V Saxena. Defending the appointment, Parrikar said "even I was investigated by CBI (for International Film Festival infrastructure scam)?" Congress yesterday attacked the BJP government over the issue, saying Sacheti`s appointment indicates the state`s lack of seriousness towards curbing corruption. Organisational activities related to Lusofonia Games has become controversial after BJP MP Shripad Naik resigned from its organising committee claiming that he was feeling "suffocated". Congress has supported Naik`s move, calling him a "clean man, who could have been chief minister of Goa". "The present happening reflects Parrikar`s dictatorial behaviour," Goa Congress spokesman Sudip Tamankar said yesterday. PTI