Sports Ministry and SAI under fire from Hockey India general

Narinder Batra

New Delhi, Aug 19(IANS) : Hockey India (HI) secretary general Narinder Batra has filed a Right To Information (RTI) petition against Ajit Sharan, secretary, ministry of sports, and Sports Authority of India (SAI) director general Jiji Thomson after the national junior women's hockey camp that was slated to start in Bhopal Tuesday was reportedly not cleared by the government.

In the RTI, Batra sought information on the cost incurred by both Sharan and Thomson on domestic and international tours from the time of joining the ministry and SAI, respectively, till date.

HI had formally sought permission from the SAI on July 3 for the August 19-September 30 camp in Bhopal, but after more than a month there was no clearance.

"Thank you very much for not sanctioning the junior women camp in Bhopal which was to start from today i.e. 19 August, 2014, and thank you also for your unsportsman like behaviour and ruining the women development programme of hockey in India," said Batra in a statement.

Batra also sought the intervention of union Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal.

"Hon'ble Minister Sir, we Hockey India request for your kind intervention, it is becoming difficult to work with officers in your ministry who are more of spoilers then listeners. Sir, with your intervention we want fairness amongst your senior officer's in ministry and SAI for build up of hockey and other sports for winning medals in coming years, is not hampered by few egoistic individuals. Hope for your favourable consideration," said Batra.