New Delhi:
With time running out and the threat of India's ouster from the Olympic family looming large, the Sports Ministry on Tuesday sought an early meeting with International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge to solve what it described as a "false situation of crisis" created by the Indian Olympic Association officials.
In his letter to Rogge, Joint Secretary Injeti Srinivas sought an immediate meeting to clear the air, adding that the Sports Ministry has not received copy of the International Olympic Committee letter in which IOC threatened to take up the issue in its Executive Board meeting next month, which may lead to India's ouster from Olympic family.
"We are confident that IOC will acquaint itself with the full facts before forming any view in the present case. We expect that our meeting with you can be scheduled early to enable a comprehensive appreciation of the entire matter," Srinivas said.
Without naming IOA General Secretary Randhir Singh, who is also an IOC member, the Ministry accused him of trying to mislead the IOC and complicating the issue.
"It is unfortunate that the IOC member from India has not even cared to consult us before taking up this matter with you," Srinivas said.
The Ministry also accused the IOA officials of creating this crisis only to protect their interests.
"This an attempt to create a false situation of crisis, by a few interested persons, whose only aim is to protect their unduly long tenures in the IOA and the NSFs (National Sports Federations)," Srinivas said.
At the centre of this ongoing row is the recent Sports Ministry guidelines which states NSF Presidents cannot rule for more than 12 years, secretaries and treasurers cannot function more than eight years at a stretch and all executives have to retire at 70.
The guidelines, if implemented, would end the tenure of Kalmadi and NSF chiefs including VK Malhotra (archery), Jagdish Tytler (judo) and SS Dhindsa (cycling).
In the letter on Tuesday, the Ministry cited government sports regulations in countries like USA and Malaysia to assert that ensuring accountability of NSFs was not in violation of the Olympic charter.
The Ministry said being an IOC member and an Olympic Council of Asia General Secretary, Randhir is well aware of the regulations internationally but has kept the IOC in dark about the scenario in India.
"He is fully aware of the proceedings before the Delhi High Court, as IOA is a respondent, in the ongoing Public Interest Litigation. Further, as the Secretary General of OCA, he is conversant with the sports legislations of Malaysia and Sri Lanka," the letter said.
"However, it appears that IOC has not been apprised by him of the national (in this case Indian) perspective in its entirety, thereby exposing his conflict of interest as well, since he has been holding the post of Secretary General, IOA for over two decades," Srinivas wrote.
The Ministry said it has gone through the sports regulations in 30 countries before formulating the guidelines.
"We have carefully studied sports regulations prevalent in more than 30 countries, including USA, France, Italy, Hungary, Mauritius, Malaysia and Sri Lanka. These countries have enacted sports legislations, which contain several mandatory provisions that their sports federations have to conform, to obtain recognition and financial support from the government," the letter said.
The Ministry said instead of rejecting Ministry's guidelines, the IOA and NSF administrators should focus on preparing for the Commonwealth Games here this October.
"The Government is providing full administrative and financial support to the Organising Committee for staging the Games successfully. It is critical that, at this time, all our sports bodies focus on the Games, which is their primary duty."