Lodha panel recommendations be extended to all sports: AAP

AAP today welcomed the Lodha committee recommendations on restructuring of BCCI, saying they should be extended to all sport bodies in the country.
The party said the recommendations of the Justice (retd) R M Lodha-led three-member committee has come at "right time with right purpose" of cleaning Indian sports of "unprofessional interference and corruption".
The party said it favoured the recommendations of the Lodha Committee which clearly states that no minister or government servant can be elected to the cricket board and it will urge the Delhi government to implement the recommendations.
"Sportspersons in the country suffer due to the undue influence of unprofessional people in sports arena. Professionals and veterans of the game need to be brought to sports administration in the country.

"Sports is part of the nation's pride and there is no reason why the administration of sports should work like private bodies governed by satraps. The recommendations of the Lodha Committee need to be implemented at the earliest. We welcome the report," senior party leader Ashutosh said.
It is to be noted that the AAP and Union Minister Arun Jaitley have been locked in a bitter battle with the former accusing the latter of irregularities in the Delhi District Cricket Administration (DDCA).

Jaitely, who was the President of the DDCA, in turn has sued Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and five other AAP leaders, including Ashutosh, for defamation.

The party said the stipulations of the tenure for office bearers and other recommendations of transparency will go a long way in cleaning and encouraging sports in the country.
"The AAP demands that the recommendations be implemented at the earliest without any delay and without any wriggling out tactics by the government which is a normal case with such recommendations.
"Any efforts of the (Union) government to delay the actual execution of the recommendations will be an effort to save the people who would be affected by the cleansing of corrupt practices in Indian sports," the party said in a statement.

The Committee recommended sweeping reforms and an administrative shake-up for BCCI by suggesting that ministers be barred from occupying positions, a cap put on the age and tenure of office-bearers and legalisation of betting.