By CricketCountry Staff
President of the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA), I S Bindra has slammed the new sports development bill proposed by the sports ministry which attempts to bring the national sports federations (NSFs) under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
Published: Oct 24, 2011, 01:55 PM (IST)
Edited: Oct 24, 2011, 01:55 PM (IST)
President of Punjab Cricket Association, IS Bindra slammed Indian government for their inability to maintain the infrastructure built during the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games © Getty Images
By CricketCountry Staff
New Delhi: Oct 24, 2011
President of the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) and principal advisor of the International Cricket Council (ICC), I S Bindra has slammed the new sports development bill proposed by the sports ministry which attempts to bring the national sports federations (NSFs) under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
Bindra was quoted in India Today as saying, “This legislation is a piece of – and I’m using a very strong word – bulls***. It is bulls***. I mean it. This legislation is totally dangerous for sports. It will kill sports in India. That’s my firm view.
“The ministry is talking nonsense. I’ve seen the new act. It is total bulls*** and the minister [Ajay Maken] is not bothering about looking after his own infrastructure, stadiums, and performing his duties, and wants to rein [in] the cricket association (BCCI). There can’t be anything worse than this act.”
The sports ministry had earlier retained some of the contentious provisions like the age and tenure limitations for officials of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and the NSFs; barring the selection committee meetings, which won’t be covered under the RTI Act.
But Bindra seemed less impressed with the revised version of the bill. He added, “I’ve gone through it and it is absolutely suicidal for sports. They want to finish cricket, but it should not allow this kind of a thing to come up.”
Bindra also slammed the Indian government for their inability to maintain the infrastructure built during the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games. “So, why do they want to interfere? Can the government handle its own affairs? Can they handle their own stadiums which were created for the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games? They are in a complete mess,” added Bindra.
Bindra also asked the media to oppose the proposed legislation. “Let them [ministry] mind their own business. Let the federations run on their own. Cricket is the only federation which is running well and they have no business to interfere. Once you make [the proposed guidelines] applicable to cricket, tomorrow anyone can come and amend any provisions. It’s basically a wrong thing; the media should realise this as it is supporting the sports minister.”
Bindra seemed to be particularly concerned with RTI being applied in selection matters of the game. He said, “BCCI is a totally transparent body. And RTI is no problem, but you can’t have RTI in selection matters and some other issues. Even I am not concerned with what happens in selection committee meetings. As BCCI president, I never ever interfered. So, why should the public know about the selection meetings?”
