Pawar endorses PM's view on keeping politics, sports apart

Mumbai, June 7: Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar Friday supported Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's view that politics and sport should not be mixed, saying he never indulged in it during his long decades of association with various sports bodies.

"I have been associated with sports and sports bodies for many years... But I never brought politics into sports or games. I think the prime minister is correct when he says that the two (politics and sports) should not be mixed," he said at a press conference after a party convention here.

However, Pawar declined to comment about the raging spot fixing and betting controversy gripping the Indian Premier League with players and now even team owners coming under shadow of suspicion and intrigue.

"Presently, I am not associated with the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India). I may be with some other sports body in the future," Pawar said.

IANS