IOA President and Secretary-General engage in war of words

A growing rift has erupted between Indian Olympic Association President Narinder Batra and Secretary- General Rajeev Mehta after the former decided to divide much of the latter’s work, confirmed the mail which was sent to Mehta by President Batra.

The mail that was sent to Mehta in which he was told that President is observing his workload and pressure that Mehta has taken in IOA.

The content which was written on the mail send to Mehta was “ For almost six years you are in Delhi attending to IOA work for almost 5 to 6 days a week and we are thankful to you for investing so much of your time for IOA. One thing that I have to understand in these last 60 days of the pandemic that one needs to need to be with loved ones and especially one’s family”.

He further wrote “ I have decided to take over/divide much of your workload and will be doing the needful in days to come and since I am Delhi based and few other people who are regularly coming to Delhi will now have to share the responsibilities/burden. Your important advice will be considered for sure. By doing this you will be able to live with your family in Nainital and also attend your business which is in Uttrakhand”.

However Mehta in reply said that promoting sports and serving sports has been his mission and he has dedicated his life to it, adding that he is “perfectly comfortable” with the workload assigned to him by the General Body.

As he added that “I also thank you for appreciating that I have been working tirelessly for IOA for the last couple of years. I may add that promoting sports and serving sports has been my mission and I have dedicated my life to it. My Family appreciates my commitment and they have been supportive of my endeavors and will like to see me doing more for sports by stationing myself in Delhi and discharging my responsibilities as Secretary-General of IOA” Mehta wrote in reply.

He further added that “ He is perfectly fine with the workload assigned to him by the General Body The conflict arises by his statement that Mehta gave about the NRAI president Batra if he had the desire to take the role of secretary-general I would have not contested for it in 2017.”