Published: Dec 20, 2015, 01:16 PM (IST)
Edited: Dec 23, 2015, 12:49 PM (IST)
Gautam Gambhir has come out in support for the under-fire former Delhi and Districts Cricket Associaton (DDCA) President Arun Jaitley. Gambhir, currently leads the Delhi team in the domestic fixures, took to his Twitter account to say that it was inappropriate to blame the current Minister for Finance, Corporate Affairs, Information and Broadcasting for all that was wrong with the DDCA, adding that it was Jaitley who got Delhi a proper stadium without the expenditure of taxpayers’ money. Jaitley has been under fire from members of Congress and Aam Aadmi Party(AAP), who have leveled allegations of “gross, financial irregularities” during his tenure as the DDCA President between 1999 and 2013, and have demanded for his resignation from the post of the Union Finance Minister. READ: Arun Jaitley should be sacked from DDCA: AAP to Narendra Modi
Gambhir added that some ex-players were criticising Jaitley, when it was because of he former DDCA supremo that they enjoyed top posts in the organisation that is in charge of cricket-related affairs in the national capital. Meanwhile, Gambhir’s former India opening partner Virender Sehwag has also come out in support of Jaitley, saying that he was one of the most supportive members of administrative body and that he always batted for players’ welfare. According to the recently-retired dashing batsman, Jaitley “would ensure correction and justice for deserving players.” READ: Arun Jaitley most supportive among all DDCA officials, says Virender Sehwag
However, not all former Indian cricketers have been supportive towards Jaitley, with former skipper and leading spinner Bishan Singh Bedi expressing support for the Arvind Kejriwal and AAP, saying that the Delhi government did not need anybody’s permission to investigate the irregularities.
Grossly inappropriate 2 blame @arunjaitley ji 4 corruption in DDCA. He was d one who got Delhi a proper stadium widout taxpayer’s money.
— GGF (@GautamGambhir) December 20, 2015
Appalling to note some ex-players blame @arunjaitley ji for all that’s wrong in DDCA. Whereas dey enjoyed plum posts in DDCA coz of him.
— GGF (@GautamGambhir) December 20, 2015
“Why do they have this idea that Delhi state government needs permission from DDCA to probe the irregularities? If they are so clean then why did the BCCI needed to stop their annual grant. If anyone kindly bothers to explain it to me,” Bedi was quoted as saying recently.
The DDCA however, has refuted all allegations pertaining to Jaitley’s tenure as DDCA chief from 1999 to 2013 from the opposition parties, categorising them as “rubbish”and “baseless allegations”. DDCA working president Chetan Chauhan held a press conference to rebut all the allegations in which he said: “Some allegations have been raised against DDCA and it needs clarification as everyone is stating their point. First thing is allegation of irregularities on stadium construction. Stadium is made of Rs 141 crore.” READ: DDCA refute AAP’s allegations against Arun Jaitley
