The Himachal Pradesh assembly on Wednesday passed a bill amid heated arguments between treasury and opposition benches that brought 42 sports bodies, including the state cricket association, under the government control.
At the onset of the debate on the Himachal Pradesh Sports (Registration, Recognition and Regulation of Associations) Bill, 2015, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh said at present there is no regulation to monitor sports associations in the state.
"The legislation covers all aspects, which are necessary for regulation of sports associations, to enable them to function in a democratic manner, remain accountable with regard to promotion of all games and sports and prosper in a free and fair environment and to uphold the cause of sportsperson," he said.
The bill was tabled on April 7.
Intervening in the debate, the chief minister said land was allotted to the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) by the previous government headed by Prem Kumar Dhumal, the father of HPCA boss Anurag Thakur, who is also a Lok Sabha member of the BJP from Himachal Pradesh.
"You have given a huge chunk of land to the HPCA for constructing stadiums not at throwaway prices but at a lease of Re.1 a year."
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The HPCA's showpiece international stadium in Dharamsala, one of the most beautiful grounds in the world, has so far hosted nine IPL and two international matches.
In this IPL season, Dharamsala was not allotted a single match owing to the tussle between the Congress-led state government and the HPCA.
Initiating the debate, BJP member Suresh Bhardwaj said the present legislation was against the spirit of the Olympics. There was no country-level legislation to regulate the sports associations, he added.
Bhardwaj demanded that the bill should be sent to the joint select committee of the legislature before its passing.
Other BJP members Ravinder Ravi and Randhir Sharma said the intention of the state government behind bringing this legislation was not good.
Defending the state government, Deputy Speaker Jagat Singh Negi questioned the BJP for defending the "misdeeds" of the HPCA.
As BJP member Satpal Satti was speaking, he was disturbed by members of the treasury benches. This agitated the Bharatiya Janata Party legislators, who stood up and rushed towards the speaker's seat and raised slogans.
In the melee, the bill was passed by voice vote.
The chief minister said the legislation has provision of an independent election officer to supervise, control and conduct the elections of the sports associations.
He said the election of the executive body of every association should be held once in four years.
Later talking to reporters, former chief minister Dhumal said the Congress government had enacted the sports legislation in the state during its previous tenure in 2005 also.
It was, however, repealed by the BJP government which opposed the idea of bringing sports bodies under the state control.