New Delhi, May 1 (IANS) Indian Olympic Association (IOA) officiating president Vijay Kumar Malhotra said Sunday that the National Sports Federations (NSFs) will outrightly reject the National Sports Development Bill proposed by the sports ministry.
The bill will limit the age and tenure of the NSF’s office bearers.
After a meeting with 25 of the 34 NSFs at the Olympic Bhawan here Sunday, Malhotra said that it was unanimously decided that the NSFs will defend their autonomy.
‘All the NSFs present in the meeting have resolved to defend the autonomy of the sports federations. Most of the federations were forced or compelled to accept the draconian guidelines and the the sports bill. Obstacles are being created for them so that they may not send their teams in international competitions,’ said Malhotra, who is also the president of the Archery Association of India (AAI).
Malhotra said the government wants to have full control over sports at all levels, including at the state and district levels.
‘We outrightly reject the bill and the federations are prepared to accept any other suggestion of the government which do not interfere in the autonomy of the national federations,’ said Malhotra.
IOA secretary general Randhir Singh said the bill would be strongly debated in the meeting with the sports ministry Monday.
‘Today, 25 federations, who will be present in tomorrow’s meeting, participated in the discussion and all the federations are going to oppose the bill. The government is adopting a dictatorial attitude towards the federations and this is not the proper way to run sports in a democracy,’ he said.
Malhotra said that the IOA is in line with government’s bid to bring transparency in sports.
‘The federations have already accepted the principle of transparency, fair elections and audit,’ he said.
Malhotra added that IOA officials will soon present their case before Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
