New Delhi: The glitzy Delhi showcase at the closing ceremony of Melbourne Commonwealth Games has came under a cloud of controversy.
Delhi Assembly Deputy Speaker Shoaib Iqbal has alleged that top Bollywood stars charged huge amounts for performing at the event despite claiming to have done it for free.
Iqbal, who was part of the government delegation that attended the closing ceremony of the Games, claimed that the movie stars, including Aishwarya Rai, Rani Mukherjee and Saif Ali Khan, were paid huge amounts.
He added that the Indian Olympic Association spent Rs 40 crore over their travelling, lodging and fees.
"I saw the celebrities freely dispensing sound bytes to the media about how patriotic fervour had motivated them to be in Melbourne. I was moved," he said.
"But when I learnt the truth I was shattered. I feel it is my duty to tell the truth to the people of India," Iqbal said.
He said the truth is that the celebrities charged fees, running into crores.
The JD(S) leader further said that besides the celebrities, some socialites too attended the Games as paid invitees.
He said while Rs 29 crore was to be paid by Delhi Government, the Centre was to contribute Rs 11 crore towards expenses incurred over the celebrities.
Iqbal demanded that while Delhi government has decided not to release the balance Rs nine crore to the IOA, it should demand back the Rs 20 crore already paid to the sports body.
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