Appointment of tainted Kalmadi, Chautala stirs major controversy

Soon after the announcement was made by the IOA in Chennai yesterday, Union Sports Minister Vijay Goel criticised the (IOA) for the decision and also termed their appointments as "totally unacceptable" saying the duo were facing serious criminal and corruption charges. 

However, Delhi Congress President Ajay Maken attacked Mr Goel saying that the government couldn't keep itself away from the decision as the ruling party's members themselves were in the meeting in which the resolution was passed. "It was the Congress led government that had made Kalmadi resign and initiated legal process against him and now it was shocking that under the BJP government, which had been making all hue and cry over the CWG scam, Kalmadi has been reinstated," 

Also Abhay Singh Chautala slammed Union Sports Minister for criticising his appointment and advised Mr Goel to focus on his job. "I am surprised by the reaction of Sports Minister Vijay Goel. He was claiming that there are criminal and corruption cases against me. The case against me is not a criminal case, it is a political case," Chautala said. 

"Goel has failed in his responsibility as a Sports Minister and I advise him to fulfil his responsibility as Sports Minister because if he does that, our medal count will increase," he added. 

Notably, Kalmadi and Chautala were made Life Presidents by the IOA at its Annual General Meeting in Chennai yesterday. 

While Kalmadi, who had served as IOA chief from 1996 to 2011, was behind bars for 10 months for his involvement in the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games corruption scandal, Chautala, who served as the president of IOA from December 2012 to February 2014, the national Olympic body, was suspended by the International Olympic Committee for fielding charge-sheeted candidates at the elections.