Uma Bharti reads the riot act

President of the Indian Olympic Association Suresh Kalmadi and secretary general of the IOA Randhir Singh failed to attend a meeting of all sports federations called for by Minister of Sports Uma Bharti on Thursday.

"I do not know why they have failed to attend the meeting. I will talk to them and find out," the minister told the media at the end of the meeting.

Uma Bharti assured the representatives who did turn up that the government would extend full support to, and even release additional funds for the improvement of, Indian sport -- provided they for their part could ensure that they would take full responsibility for performance.

"If performance falls, will they accept responsibility? That is what I have asked them," the minister said.

" I have made three points at the meeting held this morning," Uma Bharti elaborated. "If the government gives them all requisite funds, then who will be held responsible for a poor showing at the international level?

"Second, they should tell us how much funds they have raised after they got 100 per cent tax rebate on donations for sports development, and what part of these funds are being used for holding tournaments at the junior level.

"We are ready to give more funds to sports, but at the same time we should also improve our level of performance. I have given them one month's time to answer my questions. When India performs below par at international tournaments, we have to defend these federations in Parliament. Now it is time they came up with some answers," the minister, clearly angry, said.

She painted a grim picture of the Indian prospects in the forthcoming Afro-Asian Games to be held in New Delhi in November this year.

"Though the total number of medals is around 463, the Indian contingent would win at best only 18 medals. We might win two medals in athletics, we won't win any in football, we just might win two in hockey... is this enough?"

Asked if the stadia would be ready in time and if she still planned to involve public sector undertakings in the task, Ms Bharti said that because of paucity of time, she has decided to entrust the job to the Delhi Development Authority and the New Delhi Municipal Corporation. "They were involved in the construction of stadia in 1982, they know how to do it in time," she explained.

She said that the principle of performance or punishment will apply henceforth, beginning with the Afro-Asian Games. "We are holding the Games as scheduled. There were some problems in the hockey and tennis schedules, but these are being sorted out. I have visited the stadiums during last couple of weeks and one thing which is bothering me is the leaking of water in the Indira Gandhi indoor stadium. Despite the fact that international experts have been consulted to seal the leakage, it still drips. I would not want to see the stadium dripping when the Games are on," she said.

She denied that there was any rift between the IOA and the ministry of sports. "I have given instructions to the officials of my ministry that they must take decisions as early as possible and should ensure fast clearance of any project. We are hard pressed for time but we will manage to pull it off well," she said.

She pointed out that Abhinav Bindra, the budding shooter, had asked for a coach who has to be paid $500 per day. "I am willing to clear even this, but will someone assure me that we will get a gold in the Olympic Games? Or tell me what answer I should make if after all that expenditure we fail, and they ask questions in Parliament?"