Unfortunately, govt has no authority to intervene: Aiyar

As an entire fraternity called for government intervention to revive Indian hockey, sports minister Mani Shankar Aiyar made it clear that he had no authority to act against the game’s governing body. Aiyar said his ministry was bound by the ‘Olympic Charter’ and he could not interfere in the functioning of an autonomous body such as the IHF.

“All federations are autonomous and only voters decide on the ouster or appointment of a federation President but the Government of India is not a voter so at the moment we cannot do anything,” Aiyar told reporters.

“We don’t appoint a federation president so we cannot remove him either. We just watch and suffer,” he said adding that “there are serious limitations as to what can be attempted, but we are working on what can be done”.