Minister for Youth Services, Sports and Technical Education, Molvi Imran Raza Ansari today said that sports has nothing to do with politics.Ansari, while chairing a high level meeting, discussed the issues regarding holding of offices by government employees in any sports federation or Association. “It is an area where performers showcase their talent by their performances and are judged on that basis. I personally believe in it. And with this vision, I want to take sports in J&K to the greater heights”, the Minister stressed.Minister of State for Youth Services and Sports, Sunil Sharma was also present on the occasion.In a detailed review about SRO-164, the meeting adopted a consensus that any employee can be a member of any sports association provided he does not hold any office of profit in that sports body and that for selection of any member to any Sports Association should be left to the discretion of sports bodies themselves so that genuine sportspersons are not barred by law from holding positions in sports associations to which they can contribute better by their experience. It was also decided that such proposals should come from Secretary Sports Council and get final approval from Administrative Secretary Sports, J&K Govt, without routing it from the General Administration Department to make the process of obtaining Government permissions simpler.
He urged the officers to formulate a comprehensive plan in this regard so that it could be sent to the Chief Minister for taking a final view in the matter. He also emphasized that the credibility of sports associations should be not be put on stake and that their autonomy is an article of faith for the government.The Minister informed the meeting that while highlighting the contribution of the sports department in building an atmosphere of peace and normalcy in the State, Chief Minister Ms Mehbooba Mufti hailed the efforts of the department and also praised the initiatives like Khelo India program launched in the State.The meeting was attended by Secretary Youth Services and Sports, Director Youth Services and Sports and Secretary Sports Council and other officers of the concerned department.