Himachal Pradesh assembly passes Sports Bill amidst protests by BJP MLAs
Amid huge protests by the opposition leaders, the Himachal Praesh assembly on Thursday cleared the Himachal Pradesh Sports (Registration, Recognition and Regulation of Associations) Bill 2015 to regulate functioning of the sports bodies, ensuring their regular elections, maintenance of accounts and public scrutiny.
Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, who introduced the bill, said the legislation aims to ‘democratize’ the sports bodies, besides ensuring full transparency in their functions and accounting.
“Till now there was no regulatory mechanism for the sports bodies. The bill makes it mandatory for every sports body to get registered and frame its constitution, consisting of memorandum and bye-laws. Every such association shall have an executive body, duly elected through a democratic process. The election of the executive body shall be held once in every four years. The lifetime members and donors will have no voting rights,” said Singh.
To stall the clearance of the bill, the Opposition members led by former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal entered the well of the House as assembly witnessed frayed tempers and heated arguments. The opposition leaders raised slogans as Speaker B B L Butail put the bill to voting. It took no time for the House to pass the bill as the opposition did not participate in the voting.
The debate in the House was marred by repeated interruptions and unprecedented clashes after BJP’s Chief whip Suresh Bhardwaj put forth legal arguments about the bill being against the Olympian spirit and demanded its withdrawal. He also raised questions on the government’s real agenda as no state government except Rajasthan, so far, had enacted such a bill. Bhardwaj alleged that the government taking control over the sports bodies will create an unprecedented situation debarring budding players to participate in national and international events.
Another BJP MLA Ravinder Ravi said the way the bill was introduced in a hush-hush manner raises doubts about government’s intentions. “It’s only aimed to settle scores with certain people, who were heading the sports bodies,” said Ravi.
Deputy Speaker Jagat Singh Negi hailed the bill and asserted that certain individuals had grabbed the sports bodies in the state and bill fully democraticise the functioning of the sports associations. The bill doesn’t violate the charter of Olympics, he asserted.
Source:: Indian Express
