BCCI cannot dictate content of sports bill, says Congress spokesperson

New Delhi: Oct 29, 2011

Congress on Saturday refused to attach much significance to BCCI rejecting the revised draft of the National Sports Development Bill, saying the Cricket Board will not decide the course and content of the legislation as it is the government’s job.

“They are entitled to their view but they are not the legislatures. They do not pass the legislations. In the ultimate analysis the subject of legislation does not decide the course and content of legislation.

While they are entitled to their views, the decision will be made by the government, the concerned ministry and the department,” party spokespersoon Abhishek Singvhi told reporters.

His reaction came afte the BCCI rejected the revised draft of the bill that seeks to regulate the functioning of the Cricket Board, saying certain aspects of the bill are meant to “destroy the autonomy” of the cricket governing body.

“While the BCCI is all for good governance and transparency in sports bodies, certain aspects of the Bill seek to destroy the autonomy of the Board and dilute the rights of its members,” BCCI secretary Sanjay Jagdale said in a statement after the Board’s Working Committee meeting in Kolkata.

Relations between the BCCI and sports ministry have been strained over the contentious issue.

BCCI, which is an autonomous body, and some other sports organisations such as Indian Olympic Association (IOA) have opposed the legislation. The IOA had in fact termed the revised bill a “cruel joke”.

The bill was revised after the cabinet did not give its approval to it. The proposed bill wants to give BCCI the status of a National Sports Federation and therefore bring it under the purview of the RTI Act. (PTI)