Jitendra writes to IOC to stick to chargesheet clause

New Delhi: Miffed at the IOA`s decision to dilute the contentious chargesheet clause, Sports Minister Jitendra Singh has shot off a letter to International Olympic Committee President asking the world body to stick to its earlier stand of barring corruption-tainted persons from contesting elections.

On Sunday, the IOA`s Special General Body Meeting sought to dilute IOC`s directive to bar chargesheeted persons from contesting elections by proposing to apply the sanction to only those who are convicted and sentenced to a jail term of more than two years. They had argued that under Indian law, chargesheeted persons can stand even Parliamentary elections. Jitendra does not seem to be convinced with IOA`s argument to dilute the contentious clause. "I am disappointed with the outcome of IOA meeting which adopted resolution that allows tainted officials to contest elections. I think this kind of restriction can be misused and totally misplaced. I think it falls short of what IOC has proposed to IOA," Jitendra wrote in the letter to IOC President Jacques Rogge. "Government of India supports the original line adopted by IOC that tainted officials not be permitted to contest elections," he said. "We can`t let the athletes suffer. Athletes should not suffer because of sinful administrators," he added. If the amendments agreed to in a marathon SGBM of the IOA are accepted by the IOC, it will be a huge reprieve for the likes of Lalit Bhanot and V K Verma who were chargesheeted in 2010 Commonwealth Games scam along with former IOA chief Suresh Kalmadi as they will be allowed to contest elections in that situation. All the other amendments proposed by the IOC in the revised draft constitution sent on August 15 have been accepted by the GBM. PTI