The Commonwealth Games scam might not have taken place had the National Sports Development Bill been passed, said Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Ajay Maken.
“Had the Bill been enacted, none would have gone behind the bars at Tihar for any sports scam,” he told journalists at the Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development (RGNIYD) at Sriperumbudur, near here.
Asked why the Bill was being pushed through by his Ministry, Mr. Maken said it was already late.
BCCI issue
To a question on bringing the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) under the Right to Information Act, the Minister said any national sports federation or association using the term ‘national team' should be accountable to the public even if it did not avail itself of financial assistance directly from the government.
He said such associations or federations used land obtained from the State governments either on quit rent basis or on lease for creating infrastructure for promoting sports and games.
“They are bound to maintain transparency in their activities and be accountable to the general public.” Mr. Maken presided over the 4th Foundation Day celebrations of the institute.
Plan of action
He presented a plan of action to be undertaken to make the RGNIYD an institute of national importance to address the vital needs of youth development and use their creative energies for nation building.
Secretary, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Sindhushree Khullar, and Kalakshetra Foundation Director Leela Samson were present.
