Strongly protesting the appointment of tainted Suresh Kalmadi and Abhay Singh Chautala as life Presidents of the IOA, former Sports Minister Ajay Maken on Wednesday called on the government to take serious steps to reverse the decision and save the image of the country.
Terming the appointments as "sad and painful", he also asked the government to approach the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on the issue.
"As a former Sports Minister and sports enthusiast, the IOA's decision to appoint Kalmadi and Chautala as life Presidents of IOA is sad and very painful. This decision is not good for sports and India's image," Maken told reporters here today.
"I request the Sports Minister not only to convey his reservations but take strong actions to reverse the decision. All the National Sports Federations are funded by the Sports Ministry, so the government should exercise its full powers to reverse the decision. If they do so there is no reason the matter can't be resolved."
Maken called on the BJP-ruled Central government to exercise its powers and force the Indian Olympic Association to withdraw the move.
"The first step to rectify is that the IOA should be pressurised to call an Emergent Meeting and forced to take back its decision till both Kalmadi and Chautala get clearance from the court.
"The government should also approach the International Olympic Committee's Ethics Committee. The government should support all the Public Interest litigations (PIl) that will be filed in the court on this issue. If they are not removed this will be a big taint on Indian sports," Maken said.
Sports Minister Vijay Goel has already lashed out at the IOA for making tainted Kalmadi and Chautala the life Presidents at its Annual General Meeting in Chennai, saying it was "totally unacceptable" as both of them were facing serious criminal and corruption charges.
Maken also questioned BJP Member of Parliament Anurag Thakur, BJP-ally Siromoni Akali Dal MP Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa and IOA sitting vice-President Tarlochan Singh for not opposing the appointments being a part of the AGM on Tuesday.
"Today when we are talking about eradicating corruption and graft from the country we are bringing back such tainted individuals. What message the IOA is givingIJ" he asked.
"Anurag Thakur, Dhindsa and Tarlochan Singh were all part of IOA Executive Committee and were there at the meeting yesterday. I request them all to take back the decision for the image of the country," Maken added.
Maken said tainted and corrupt individuals have no place in the system.
"When the Commonwealth Games corruption came up it was the ruling party which questioned us (Congress) but we acted immediately, removing Kalmadi from all positions. Now under the ruling regime such appointments are taking place. How can they justify thatIJ" he questioned.
Maken, under whose tenure the first Sports Bill was made in 2011, said had the bill been approved by the Cabinet then not a single public functionary would have been a part of National Sports Federations (NSFs) in the country.
"All NSFs have been hijacked by the politicians. When I was the Sports Minister in 2011, we introduced the Sports Bill which clearly mentioned that no public functionaries be it politicians or bureaucrats, can be a part of sports federations. If it was adopted 95 per cent of the executive board of the NSFs would have been ousted by now," he said.
Kalmadi served as the IOA president from 1996 to 2011 and was jailed for 10 months for his involvement in the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games corruption scandal but was later released on bail.
Chautala, on the other hand, served as the president of the IOA from December 2012 to February 2014 when the sports body was suspended by the parent IOC for fielding charge-sheeted candidates at the elections. His election as IOA chief was annulled by the IOC.
Min issues show-cause to IOA
The Sports Ministry on Wednesday issued a show-cause notice to the Indian Olympic Association, threatening to derecognise the body if it does not reverse its decision to make scam-tainted Suresh Kalmadi and Abhay Singh Chautala as life Presidents.
Kalmadi and Chautala were elevated to the honourary position at the IOA's Annual General Meeting in Chennai yesterday, shocking the Indian sporting landscape and leaving the Sports Ministry fuming.
As the storm gained in intensity on Wednesday, Kalmadi was the first to step aside, but Chautala refused to follow suit.
Sports Minister Vijay Goel said that it will severe ties with the IOA if the controversial decision is not overturned.
The government has decided not to deal with the IOA as the National Olympic Committee until Shri Suresh Kalmadi and Shri Abhay Singh Chautala, both of whom have been charge-sheeted, resign or are removed from the posts of life President in IOA," the sports ministry said in a statement.
"The Government after careful consideration has decided to issue a show cause notice to IOA as to why it should continue to be recognized as the National Olympic Committee (NOC) when it has failed to conform to the basic principles of ethics and good governance," it added.
"This is considered imperative because the present action of IOA, as the NOC, has adversely impacted the standing and prestige of the country and has set a wrong precedent that is not in the interest of Indian sports."
The ministry said that it has consistently been opposing creation of posts in the IOA and other sports bodies which allow back-door entry to individuals who are otherwise ineligible, including those charge sheeted/convicted, to hold positions as office-bearers as per the provisions of Sports Code.
"The Ministry is of the firm view that the action of IOA is against the principles of ethics and good governance as laid down by International Olympic Committee. The action is also in contravention of principles laid down in various judgments by the Supreme Court of India and High Courts wherein they have maintained that NOC/NSFs perform state like functions, including selection of national teams and therefore they come within the writ jurisdiction of High Court and are governed by public law.
"The Ministry is of the view that IOA being the mother sports body is required to maintain the highest standards of probity and good governance and stand as a role model for others to emulate. But they have failed to do so," the statement added.