Sports Minister Sunil Dutt seems not too happy with the functioning of the Indian Hockey Federation, which had come under flak from the Ministry over six months ago over its "non-transparent" selection policy.
Dutt, who launched 'Sportal', the official website of the Sports Ministry in New Delhi on Tuesday, did not give any direct reply when asked if he was satisfied with the functioning of the IHF.
"Are you happy with it?" was what he said before adding "it seems no one is happy. I need not say anymore".
In May this year, the Sports Ministry had asked the IHF to put in place a transparent selection policy following which the federation appointed a seven-member selection committee which included four former national captains.
Dutt also ruled out government interference in the working of the Indian Olympic Association in the run up to the 2010 Commonwealth Games for which both the centre and the IOA have formed parallel organising committees.
While the Sports Minister himself is the chairman of the government committee, the IOA chief heads the other.
"Definitely IOA will have their say as far as the Games or Federations are concerned. We are not going to interfere in their functioning. But as far as finances are concerned, it will be government of India," Dutt said.
On IOA's proposal to ask the government for a fund of Rs 1,000 crore for staging of the Games, the minister said "if we won't give then who will?
"We will have so many things to do so the amount may be more. We have to see all the infrastructure and if needed we will modernise them. We will improve the airport and the transport. These will be used after the Games as well."
On the website "sportal.nic.in", designed by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Dutt said it would provide valuable information concerning Indian sports.
"It will be useful to everyone as people can know more about sports. We will be updating it regularly. This website covers not only Olympic sports, but also other games being played in India."
When his attention was drawn to the other aspects of the website, Dutt said "this is just a muhurat. We are working on it and you will see the improvements very soon."
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