New Delhi: Describing the revised draft of sports bill as a cruel, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on Tuesday out rightly rejected it and lambasted the government for its attempts to strangulate the autonomy of the sports federations and hijack the Olympic movement in the country.
“This is more draconian bill, which if passed will shackle the IOA, National Sports Federations (NSF) and will hit at the very root of the autonomy of the Olympic Charter and we will never be a party to it,” IOA acting president Vijay Kumar Malhotra said in a statement here.
In a strong reaction to the proposed bill, Prof Malhotra said, “I am surprised at this so called revision. It is sheer waste of time, energy and money. This so called revised draft is a part of the malicious and sinister campaign the Sports Minister has launched against the IOA and NSF and we are going to oppose it tooth and nail,” he added.
“I cannot even call it an old wine in new bottle, it is a simple charade and if Sports Minister Ajay Maken thinks he can bulldoze his way through, he is sadly mistaken” he said. "Dropping one para and few lines from earlier draft and attempts to placate the BCCI does not make it a revised bill.”
The IOA chief said he is surprised at Maken’s obsession to destroy the Olympic movement in the country”. I don’t know what he is trying to achieve and whom is trying to impress. There is nothing new in this redrafted bill and I don’t know on what basis sports minister expects us to accept it.”
The most shocking part about this "sports development bill ' was that the major stake holders, the IOA and the NSFs were never taken into confidence before preparing it. "There were no discussion between the Sports Ministry and the Federations.IOA and the NSFs were never asked to put forth their views, objections and reservations. The ministry did not even ask us why we are protesting or what we want ".
"Maken is playing to gallerias and wants to whip up hysteria against the sports federations and this is a very dangerous game plan which is not in the interests of Indian sports.”
Prof Malhotra said the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has already warned India that it may not be allowed to take part in the London Games next year, if the IOA and NSFs lose their autonomy.
“What is Maken’s game plan? If he wants India to be out of Olympic movement, let him say so, then we will have no quarrel with him, but if he hopes that he will make the IOA and NSF subservient to his ministry then I dare say he is living in world of fantasy,” said Prof Malhotra.
The IOA will soon come up with comprehensive and befitting reply to expose Mr Maken’s ill intended plans and campaign, Prof Malhotra added.