The Hindu : Sport : Dutt's honesty appreciated

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, May 26, 2005

Sport

Sport - Sports : General

Dutt's honesty appreciated

NEW DELHI: Sunil Dutt's honesty and down-to-earth approach were much appreciated by sportspersons in the short span of time that he took over as the Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports. However he could not strike a rapport straightaway with the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and the majority of the important National federations.

The unseemly row over who should head the 2010 Commonwealth Organising Committee, with the IOA president, Suresh Kalmadi, eventually occupying the post, left a bitter taste. Dutt was keener on youth affairs than sports. But he wanted the sports federations to be made accountable and vigorously pursued the induction of sports into the Concurrent List of the Constitution so that the Centre could bring in legislation. The IOA and the federations opposed him and so did a number of State Governments.

Quite often Dutt pleaded helplessness in controlling the federations. His latest move to extend financial assistance directly to sportspersons, without the approval of the federations, was seen as an attempt to bring the federations to book. He had planned a function at the Vigyan Bhavan here on Thursday, inviting prominent sportspersons to talk about their experiences as well as to guide the ministry in extending support to talented sportspersons under the scheme. The function stands postponed following his death.

One of the important aspects the Sports Ministry pursued under Dutt's tenure was India's anti-doping initiative. It was under his guidance that the Copenhagen Declaration was signed and he pursued the setting up of the National Anti Doping Agency (NADO) that will eventually see an independent agency tackling the growing menace. It was his tough stance following the Athens Olympics doping fiasco involving Indian weightlifters that led to the sacking of coaches Pal Singh Sandhu and Leonid Taranenko.

The IOA held a condolence meeting chaired by Mr. V. K. Malhotra, senior vice president, and attended by members of the various federations and associations.

A host of sporting personalities and officials paid their condolences on the passing away of Mr. Dutt.

Lt. Col. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore: It is a big setback for sports, because he had instilled confidence in sports persons. In Athens, we felt inspired with his fatherly presence. You always felt doing something for him. I had developed an immense respect for him.

Gurbachan Singh Randhawa: He was a man who was prepared to discuss topics for the improvement of sports in the country. I was expecting to meet him this evening during a football match and discuss with him a few proposals I had for improving Indian athletics.

Anjali Bhagwat: Every shooter winning a medal at the Commonwealth event received a personal fax from Mr. Sunil Dutt. It made us feel special.

Joshna Chinappa: It was his support and encouragement that had helped me go abroad for training. He was a great supporter of sports in general and his passing away is a big loss.

Randhir Singh (IOA secretary-general): His passing away is not only a great loss to the sports fraternity but that to the nation as a very popular man of art and culture and a great national political leader.

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