In response to IOC's letter dated November 15 which had directed the IOA to "exclusively" apply the Olympic Charter and the IOA constitution, the Sports Ministry shot off a letter to the world body saying that it has been "misinformed" about the Sports Code.
The Ministry said that the Sports Code was not meant for government interference but rather aimed at ensuring free and fair elections in the IOA and NSFs in consonance with Olympic Charter.
"The letter (of the IOC to IOA) seems to imply that implementation of the provisions of Sports Code of government of India will amount to government interference in IOA affairs. The letter seems to have been written on the basis of misinterpretation or lack on information about the provisions of Sports Code," said the letter written by Sports Secretary P K Deb to IOC chief Jacques Rogge.
"... The Government of India has no intentions whatsoever to interfere in the functioning of IOA. All that the Sports Code seeks to achieve is to ensure that the elections of the IOA and other sports bodies are fair, transparent and in consonance with the the Olympic Charter," it said.
The Ministry sought a meeting with the IOC repersentatives to be held in India and said that the upcoming elections to the IOA should be postponed to a future date.
"The government would be extremely happy to discuss issues of good governance and fair election processes with the IOC. I am sure once such a meeting takes place the IOC itself will appreciate the principle behind this Sports Code," said the letter whose copies were marked for IOA Acting President V K Malhotra. More
