Kalmadi-led delegation to complain PM about Mani's non-cooperation

New Delhi, June 14 (UNI) Snubbed for long by the Sports Ministry, an aggrieved Indian Olympic Association (IOA) today decided to complain to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh against minister Mani Shankar Aiyar on various issues including non-release of funds for the training of atheletes who will take part in Delhi Commonwealth Games.

Addressing a press conference after IOA Executive Committee meeting here, he said a six member delegation will meet the Prime Minister to place before him all their grievances.

''All Federations have expressed grievances about the functioning of the Sports Ministry,'' he said.

''Senior IOA officials, Mr Priyaranjan Dasmunsi, Mr Vijay Kumar Malhotra, Mr Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Mr K P Singh Deo, Mr Digvijay Singh, besides myself, will meet the Prime Minister and will inform him about the total non-cooperation of Sports Ministry to IOA and other Federations,'' Mr Kalmadi said.

''Mr Dasmunsi will arrange the meeting and fixed the timing,'' he added.

He said one and half years ago, the IOA had submitted a proposal for sanction of Rs 1,536 crores to be spent in training of atheletes for the period 2006 to 2010 but the Sports Ministry has not responded till now.

''At the end of any big international competition, everything boils down to how many medals you get. There are 40 months to go to the Delhi Commonwealth Games and the ministry has not released the fund for the training of athletes till now.

''If India does not perform well, better then the last Commonwealth Games, it will be a national shame. It is high time that the governmemt acts fast so that proper training of athletes commences.'' Mr Kalmadi also expressed displeasure at the way some sports had been dropped from the 'priority' list of the ministry which will affect the flow of government funding in these sports.

''In spite of repeated requests by IOA to include all the 17 Commonwealth disciplines in the 'priority' list, the sports minstry has unilaterally dropped hockey from the list. I am surprised that hockey has been dropped.

It is the national game and India is going to host World Cup Hockey in 2010,'' he said.

''While FIH (International Hockey Federation) is formulating a roadmap to revive Indian hockey, the sports ministry is downgrading it. It is unfortunate,'' he added.

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