Controversial sports bill withdrawn amid uproar in Himachal Assembly

The controversial Himachal Pradesh Sports (Registration, Recognition and Regulation of Associations) Bill, 2015, passed by the state assembly on April 11, 2015, and pending assent of the governor for nearly three years, was today withdrawn amid protests by opposition Congress.

As soon as Transport, Sports and Youth Services Minister Gobind Thakur moved the motion for withdrawal of the Bill, the Congress members raised a point of order that no reason had been given for withdrawing the bill and opposed the motion.

Speaker Rajiv Bindal responded by saying permission for moving the motion to withdraw the bill was granted under the rules, leading to protests and sloganeering by the opposition.

The Congress's Vikramaditya Singh said the previous government had passed the bill to bring transparency in functioning of sports bodies, ensure their democratic functioning and keep sports away from politics.

Leader of Opposition Mukesh Agnihotri said withdrawal of the bill was against the rules and as noisy scene played out, the speaker announced that he permitted the withdrawal of bill after seeing rules 175 and 176, but Congress members continued sloganeering.

Education Minister Suresh Bharadwaj said the ruling of the Speaker could not be challenged and the minister withdrew the bill in the din.

The sports minister said the bill was passed by the Assembly on April 9, 2015, and sent to the governor in May 2015 for assent which was awaited till date.

He said the bill was against the Olympic charter, adding that the proposal to withdraw the Bill was placed before the cabinet on March 27, 2018, and approval was given after detailed discussions.