IOA wants GOM on sports bill, Maken adamant on transparency

The IOA, which had all along vehemently opposed the bill, today called on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to set up a Group of Ministers (GOM) to sort out the issue, a move which is widely interpreted as an attempt to take the matter out of the Sports Minister's hand.
Maken, however, made it clear that he would not give up on the bill just yet and would talk to his cabinet colleagues to convince them.

"I am sure I will be able to reason out with people who are opposed (to the bill) because I am clear on one thing, we do not intend to control or be intrusive. We will discuss with them and we are willing to rework on any such provision which they feel government wants to control," Maken told PTI.

The National Sports Development Bill, which seeks to rein in sports bodies and possibly bring the cash-rich BCCI under the government's grip, was rejected by the cabinet on Tuesday with several ministers raising objections to certain clauses.

Reacting to the developments, IOA Acting President Vijay Kumar Malhotra said he has told Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that not only the IOA but all the National Sports Federations (NSFs) are "willing for any scrutiny by the Government agencies."
"We have nothing to hide, the NSFs are open and transparent."