BAI takes on Sports Ministry; rejects funds, govt observer

New Delhi: The stand-off between the Badminton Association of India and the Sports Ministry has

now become a full-blown war with a defiant BAI pulling out all stops to prevent the appointment of a government observer at its June 13 elections in Chennai. At loggerheads with the Ministry over its upcoming elections, BAI has become the first National Sports Federation after the Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) to claim financial self-sufficiency and refuse government aid. After the controversy over Ministry`s tenure-limitation guidelines started, the Indian Olympic Association -- the parent body of the NSFs -- had refused government funding. "We are self sufficient. We do not need any funds from the government in future. We have lined up a lot of sponsors," BAI President V K Verma, who has been in office for the past 12 years and is currently in London, told reporters. But despite its refusal to accept government funds in future, it is unclear whether BAI would be able to keep the Ministry at bay come June 13. "... even if BAI were to be become financially independent, it does not mean that it could treat government as an outsider as sports is a public good and sports development is a public service and therefore, no sports federation can claim that it can act as a private body without public accountability," Joint Secretary (Sports) Injeti Srinivas stated in a letter to Verma. BAI`s opposition notwithstanding, the Ministry has appointed Director (Sports) Deepika Kachhal as the observer for the AGM threatening the body with de-recognition in case of non-compliance with government regulations. "Please note that Government recognisation to any NSFs is subject to compliance with the Government guidelines for such recognition. It would, therefore, be necessary for you to comply with the government guidelines, which require that a recognised NSF must inform government well in advance about its General Body and other meetings where decisions on important matters are taken, including the elections of office bearers," Srinivas had said in his letter. The entire drama started after former cricket captain Mohd Azharuddin announced his candidature for the BAI President`s post in the upcoming elections. The candidature of the tainted cricketer, who is serving a life ban for alleged match-fixing, met with strong protest within BAI and at last count 25 state associations were reportedly opposed to it. "Anybody aspiring to contest has to be an office bearer of any of the state units, which Mr Azharuddin is not. Moreover, I have received written proposals and calls state units who have questioned his eligibility to contest since he is serving a life ban by BCCI, which is also a national federation," Verma had said when the 47-year-old announced his candidature. Azharuddin`s candidature is among the top issues to be discussed in the June 13 AGM. A miffed Sports Ministry claimed as per norms, the association should have informed it about these details. Azharuddin is seen to have the Ministry`s backing but the former captain has denied it although he has supported the controversial tenure-limitation guidelines for NSF and IOA office-bearers. "It is a good move by the government. I think the current administrators have also contributed but having said that, the government`s guidelines should also be followed and there should be a change," he had said. The Sports Ministry`s feud with BAI is a part of the continuing tug of war with the NSFs which are opposed to the new tenure guidelines limiting the President`s term to a maximum of 12 years. The NSFs and the IOA got the International Olympic Committee and the Olympic Coucnil of Asia`s backing on the matter, which warned the Ministry against implementing the guidelines as it could lead to India`s ouster from the Olympic movement. The Ministry then sought a meeting with the IOC to sort out the matter and that is expected to be held in 10 days time in Laussane, Switzerland. PTI