Paralympic Committee of India has elected union minister Rao Inderjit Singh as its president in a development that may pave the way for its return to the international parent organisation, while also marking the end of factionalism in the suspended body.
Rao Inderjit, who is the Minister of State for Defence in the Union Council of Ministers, was elected unopposed in the elections held at the Extraordinary General Body Meeting of the PCI at Surajkund near here yesterday.
The PCI was suspended by the International Paralympic Committee in April on the grounds of factionalism and for not looking into the welfare of the para-athletes in the country. The Sports Minister also followed suit to de-recognise it after the suspension by the IPC.
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But with the election of Rao Inderjit, who was heading a faction of the PCI, the international parent body is likely to consider the revocation of the ban.
An observer from the IPC -- Anirudh Singhal -- was present during the GBM. The Sports Ministry also sent its observer in Ashwini Kumar in the elections conducted by a retired Allahabad High Court judge, Justice (Retd.) Satish Chandra.
J Chandrashekar, from the other faction of the PCI which was recognised by the IPC and the government before its suspension and de-recognition, was made the General Secretary.
In fact, a compromise deal was worked out on September 2 wherein both the parties decided to bury the hatchet and work towards resurrecting the Paralympic movement in India.
Gursharan Singh, one of the two new vice-presidents elected yesterday, said that the IPC observer who was present expressed satisfaction at the coming in of the two factions and holding of elections for new office bearers.
"The IPC observer was satisfied with the election process but it may take two-three months for the IPC to revoke the suspension. It will take time as the IPC will first seek a report before taking a decision on revocation," he told PTI.
Rao Inderjit said that the PCI would be working with complete transparency.
He said that the last four years were not good for the para-athletes and the coaches as the government suspended its recognition.
"The first of our efforts would be to get the recognition for the body. Secondly, we would be hiring coaches from other countries to improve the level of sports," he added.
