IOA president dismisses Batra’s demand to call SGM

Indian Olympic Association chief N Ramachandran on Friday dismissed Narinder Batra’s claim of having requisite support to bring a <g data-gr-id="12">no confidence</g> motion against him, saying that the Hockey India boss does not even have enough backers to call a Special General Meeting to propose the move.

In a missive to Batra on Friday, Ramachandran said he has got letters from only 20 member units (National Sports Federations and state Olympic associations) of the IOA, which have demanded a Special General Meeting to move the <g data-gr-id="15">no confidence</g> move, thus falling short of reaching the 50 <g data-gr-id="16">per cent</g> requirement.

He said the matter should be considered closed as Batra has failed to provide the required number of letters of support. IOA has 39 NSFs and 35 state Olympic units, according to its website. In case of a few of them, disputes have been going on over who should control them. Batra had claimed support of 19 NSFs and 18 state Olympic associations. “It is rather unfortunate that you have failed in furnishing to me the letters that you claim to have received from the member units, calling for <g data-gr-id="20">a SGM</g> to consider the <g data-gr-id="22">no confidence</g> motion but have chosen instead to level false and baseless allegations by your two emails on 24th June 2015,” Ramachandran said in the letter.