The Indian Olympic Association has asked its member units to stay away from all meetings organised by the Sports Authority of India and the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports regarding the Khelo India programme until further notice.
In a letter written to the National Sports Federations (NSFs) and state Olympic associations, IOA president Narinder Batra called for a meeting of all member units to discuss issues related to Khelo India and SAIs Guidelines on Talent Search and Developmen
Batra insisted that SAI and the Sports Ministry were resorting to divide-and-rule tactics and member units should not allow them to interfere in the national federations independence and autonomy.
This development comes barely a month before the April 4-15 CWG in Australia which does not augur well for Indian sports. This is also the first such face-off after Batra took charge as new IOA president in December last.
When contacted, SAI Director General Neelam Kapur said she had not received any such communication from the IOA.