Exemplary action is need of the hour: RVS

NEW DELHI: No one would have asked how shuttler Parupalli Kashyap, winner of the gold medal on the final day at Glasgow, felt when news of the arrest of IOA secretary-general, Rajeev Mehta, was conveyed to him.

In the silence of his room, he might have thought that his achievement would be downgraded and channels and newspapers would be littered with details of the detention of IOA’s top boss, and a wrestling referee on charges of alleged sexual assault.

Sports administrators, athletes and sports buffs too were shocked at what had happened in Glasgow. Athens Olympic Games silver-medallist, trap shooter Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, who is now a Member of Parliament, told HT, “Barely do our athletes make the nation proud that our administrators let us down, both inside and outside the country.

“A few of them are a baggage, slowing Indian sports down. A detailed inquiry and exemplary action is the need of the hour. Besides, a self-regulated code of conduct is a must for all administrators,” said Rathore.

For mer athlete, Ashwini Nachappa, termed the detention of the duo as an embarrassment and urged the government to take strict action. “It’s an embarrassment for the nation. I feel sorry for the Indian contingent that is still there...I can only appeal to the government and sports ministry to take action. I don’t have faith in the IOA as it is a cosy club.”

Sports minister, Sarbananda Sonowal, promised strict action against Mehta and wrestling referee, Virender Malik, if charges against them were proved.

“Detailed information of the incident is not available right now. Our officials have been instructed to communicate with the High Commission. If media reports are proved right, then definitely we will condemn it...,” said Sonowal.

The chef-de-mission of the Indian contingent, Raj Singh, who himself manipulated his age in the passport and credentials to get the Dronacharya Award, termed the incident shameful.

The former acting president of the IOA, VK Malhotra, expressed dismay. “IOA should take action, may be sack him. The (IOA) president should call a general body and ask Mehta to resign,” he said.

“As a remedial measure, a caretaker secretary-general can be appointed or an election process should be set in motion,” he said.