Sports Ministry official under criticism from CSI

Clean Sports India, a movement for corruption-free sports, today came down heavily on the suspended IOA officials for "illegally" trying to bring about the amendments in its constitution in the wake of IOC's directive to do so to lift the ban on India.
The CSI, in a symposium organised by it on the occasion of Olympics Day here, was also critical of a top Sports Ministry official for "hobnobbing" with officials of the IOA who are not recognised by the International Olympic Committee.
Blaming the IOA squarely for the current mess in Indian sports, CSI President Ashwini Nachappa said that the national apex body should now enforce the basic principles of ethics and good governance.

"The IOC, while giving reasons for India's suspension in December last, had clearly stated that the IOA had been unable to observe its statutes and the Olympic Charter and to enforce the basic principles of ethics and good governance," Nachappa said in her opening remarks of the symposium on 'IOC roadmap for revocation of suspension of India'.
"Time has come for the stakeholders of Indian sports to lay emphasis on ethics and good governance. We should not allow tainted officials to be a part of Olympic Movement in India and play illegal role in the whole process (of India's return to Olympic fold)," she added.

The speakers also slammed Sports Secretary P K Deb for chairing a meeting to discuss the draft amendments of the IOA Constitution on April 22, which was attended by president of the suspended IOA Abhey Singh Chautala and his Executive Council colleagues.
"He has no business to chair the meeting and that too one which was attended by tainted people, not recognised by the IOC. He has compromised the well being of Indian sports by doing that," lawyer Rahul Mehra, a speaker in the symposium, said.
CSI convenor B V P Rao said his organisation was not happy with the draft amendments and also with the Sports Secretary hobnobbing with the tainted officials.