NEW DELHI: The minister of state for sports, Mamta Banerjee, rejected an opposition demand for her resignation in view of India’s dismal performance in the Barcelona Olympics.
She told the Lok Sabha that, if the House agreed, the government could consider a four-year maratorium on participation by Indian international sports events.
She said a meeting of the Indian Olympic Association and certain other sports bodies was being held in the context of the Indian team’s poor show.
Members of both Houses of Parliament expressed dismay at the performance and demanded the minister’s resignation. In the Lok Sabha, the issue was raised by Chhedi Paswar (JD) who demanded Banerjee’s resignation.
She however, pointed out that sports was a sore subject and the allocation for sports was too meager to provide better equipment.
The minister’s reply did not satisfy Janata Dal and BJP members who demanded a statement from heron the shameful” performance in Barcelona,
In the Rajya Sabha members be and even suggested that India stop participating in international events until the standard of sports persons were raised considerably through proper and scientific raining.
This suggestion was made by V. Gopslsamy (DMK) who along with Dr , J.K. Jain (BJP), expressed
concern and anguish at India’s poor performance at Barcelona and blamed the government for not according priority to sports in the country.
Raising the issue through a special mention, Dr .Jain said it was a matter of national shame that a country like India, with a population of 850 million, had failed to find a place in the medals tally in the Barcelona games,
He said India’s performance was also a reflection on the functioning of the ministry of sports, adding that the present minister had scant interest in sports and, instead, was busy politicking.
Article extracted from this publication >> Aug 21, 1992
