‘There is a lot of expectation’

October 31, 2012 03:19 am | Updated 03:19 am IST - NEW DELHI:

Jitendra Singh. Photo: V. Sudershan

Jitendra Singh. Photo: V. Sudershan

New Union Sports Minister Jitendra Singh has said that he will avoid confrontations with sports bodies while working towards ensuring transparency and accountability in their functioning.

Forty-one-year-old Jitendra Singh, who took over as the Sports Minister here on Tuesday, said he would carry forward the ‘great work’ done by his predecessor Ajay Maken.

Asked about the contentious draft Sports Bill, for which Maken had pushed hard during his tenure, Jitendra Singh said he would have dialogues with sports bodies to find a way forward. “In any job, I believe, there should be transparency and accountability. But it is important to interact with all stakeholders. Let me see the issues and the mandate. I am under a lot pressure, there is a lot of expectation,” the Minister told reporters.

“I don’t think there is any need to fight with everybody. But the dominance of sportsmen in sports is important.”

The Minister said he would need some time to understand various issues. “The Sports Ministry is extremely important for the Government machinery because in our country 50 per cent of the population is youth. Lots of issues need to be addressed. Outreach of the Ministry is very important to the people of North East, Jammu and Kashmir and the Naxal affected areas. We have to take things forward.”

Jitendra Singh was confident that his experience of being a National level trap shooter would help him understand the needs of sportspersons. “I know the problems sportspersons face. I would like to improve it,” he said.

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