rediff.com: Dhindsa denies calling for status report

Sports Minister Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa and his junior colleague Shahnawaz Hussain differed sharply over the ministry's interaction with the Central Bureau of Investigation to ascertain the progress in the ongoing investigations into match-fixing in cricket.

While Hussain on Friday said he supported Dhindsa's direction to the CBI, to submit a progress report of the investigation to the ministry within ten days, Dhindsa observed that he never asked the CBI for any such report.

Hussain said: "Dhindsa has asked the Delhi Police and CBI to submit a progress report of the investigation conducted so far within ten days. I support this totally."

When asked whether he has given any such direction, Dhindsa replied: "I have not given any such direction. We meet officers from CBI and Delhi Police every 10 to 15 days, but I have no knowledge of any such direction being given to them."

Meanwhile, in sharp contrast to Law Minister Ram Jethmalani's remarks, Dhindsa said if need arose, the laws would be changed suitably to bring the guilty in the match-fixing scandal to book.

Referring to Jethmalani's remarks that present laws are enough to handle the case, the Dhindsa said, "Jethmalani might have said so keeping in view the present scenario. If there is a need in future, we may change the law to bring the guilty to book."

He also said that the government is working to evolve a National Sports Policy to weed out corruption and streamline activities of various sports organisations.

Dhindsa's deputy, Shahnawaz Hussain said the government is studying the sports policies of different countries and talking to various sports organisations in the country to evolve a unanimous policy.

Dhindsa said efforts are on to place the report before Parliament during the coming session but added, "If we are not successful in putting together a sports policy before the end of this session, it will definitely be placed before Parliament during the next session."


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