The infighting within the Indian Olympic Association has intensified with its secretary general Rajeev Mehta today saying that IOA president N Ramachandran will be solely responsible if the country fails to submit its bid to host the 2019 Asian Games.
In an e-mail to Ramachandran today, Mehta claimed that he had received 85 per cent positive response from the National Sports Federations (NSFs) on the issue of bidding for the 2019 Asian Games.
"I had given a press statement in May 2014 that IOA should bid for 2019 Asian Games. Subsequently you had given statements that this was my personal view and such decisions have to be discussed and approved by the General house of IOA," he wrote in the e-mail.
"I actually had given my statement after sensing the sentiments of the members. But now to convince you, I had written to all members of IOA to give their consent or denial. I am happy to inform you that till now we have received yes from 85 per cent member votes and the balance 15 per cent members have not replied but no one has said no," Mehta said.
Mehta also pointed out that the Squash Rackets Federation of India and Indian Triathlon Federation, the bodies where Ramachandran enjoys a clout, were yet to reply on this matter.
"It is surprising to note that your federation squash had not yet replied and also the Triathlon, again controlled by you, has not replied," he said.
"I now hope that you will submit the bid for 2009 Asian Games by or before July 1, 2014 and will not let the IOA, its members and the sport loving people of the country down. Kindly note that we will now hold you solely responsible in case the IOA does not submit the bid," Mehta said.
