Maken hopes to introduce Bill in winter session of Parliament

The inter-ministerial consultations on the revised Sports Development Bill has started, according to Sports Minister Ajay Maken who, on Friday, expressed hope of introducing the Bill in the upcoming winter session of Parliament.

The Sports Bill, aimed at ushering transperency and accountability in the functioning of National Sports Federations (NSF) by bringing them under the purview of the RTI Act, was earlier rejected by the Cabinet, which asked the Sports Minister to rework on it.

But armed with a redrafted Bill, Maken said he will leave no stone unturned to make the sports legislation a reality.

"As far as the National Sports Bill is concerned, we have redrafted it. The inter-ministerial consultation has already started and we will soon take it up with the Cabinet," Maken said, in New Delhi, on Friday.

"We are hoping to place this bill before the Parliament in the upcoming winter session," he added.

Taking a dig at the BCCI, which is against the Bill even in the revised form, the Sports Minister said, any federation which was using the name of the country is a public body and has to come under the RTI act.

"Whether BCCI or any other body, they should come under RTI. They should have 25 per cent reservations for sportspersons and age and tenure limitations because these things will bring in transparency in their functioning," Maken said.

"Any insititution which is seeking profit from the government should come under the RTI. If you are selecting a team known as India that means you are doing a public function," he added.

Maken also rubbished NSFs reasoning behind their opposition of the Bill.

"The government doesn't want to control any federation, neither the government wants to know anything from them," Maken said.

The Sports Minister also said that he was happy with International Hockey Federation's (FIH) decision to conduct next year's Olympic Qualifiers and other major tournaments in India.

Refusing to dwell much on the long-standing power tussle between Hockey India and Indian Hockey Federation, Maken said, "FIH recognises Hockey India and we also gave Hockey India the right to select the Indian team and represent the country in international forum."