Non-inclusion of P U Chitra in the Indian squad for World Athletic Championship figured in the Rajya Sabha today, with several members demanding government's intervention in the working of Athletic Federation of India.
Deputy Chairman P J Kurien too opined that the government should enquire into the activities and functioning of the sports federation "because P U Chitra stood first and secured a gold medal in the Bhubaneswar Sports Meet, but she was excluded".
Raising the issue during Zero Hour, K Somaprasad (CPM) said the Indian team which is participating in the London meet was selected by the Indian Athletic Federation.
"This year, criticism was voiced from different corners that the selection process was not fair and transparent. It is believed that the office-bearers of Indian Athletic Federation have made some foul play in the selection of the team," he said.
The best example of it was that Chitra (who won the Gold medal in the women's 1500 mts race at the Asian Athletic Championship conducted in Bhubaneswar) has been excluded from the Indian team, Somaprasad said.
The athletic federation, he added has not given any satisfactory explanation till now.
"The athletic federation says that P U Chitra had not qualified in the selection meet held at Guntur. But surprisingly, two athletes who are included in the team did not even attend the selection test," said Somaprasad.
He further said that "it is known" that as per the existing rules and guidelines, Chitra, as the Gold Medal winner in the Asian Games, is eligible to be included in the Indian team even without participating in the selection meet.
"The whole mess was created due to the unhealthy practice of the Indian Athletic Federation. The selection list was kept confidential till the last moment. The whole selection process was orchestrated based on a planned drama," the MP added.
Alleging that all the guidelines have been "violated", he said an "urgent intervention of the Central Government is essential.
He got support from several other members.
"I think, the government should also enquire into the activities and functioning of the Sports Federation because P U Chitra stood first and secured a gold medal in the Bhubaneswar Sports Meet, but she was excluded.
"Others, who have not secured gold medals and less qualified, were included. Therefore, it should be examined," he said.
Congress members Rajani Patil and Ambika Soni raised the issue of Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTPs) and demanded early amendents to the law of 1971 to help minor rape victims.
Patil took up the issue in the context of a recent court ruling in the matter of a 10-year-old rape victim, who was disallowed from terminating her pregnancy as it had surpassed the permitted weeks.
She wondered how a 10-year-old girl, raped by a person known to her, could handle a child.
Soni joined her and said that for the last three years, the amendment to the MTP Act is pending.
Health Minister J P Nadda said the government is looking into this matter.
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