Will request IOC for an alternative solution, says sports minister Jitendra Singh to NDTV

India's sports minister Jitendra Singh told NDTV on Thursday that the Government of India is fine with the International Olympic Committee's diktat that the Indian Olympic Association must include the "charge-sheet" clause for better governance. Singh was reacting to the IOC decision in Buenos Aires on Wednesday of not welcoming India back into the Olympic family. "We have to request the IOC for an alternative solution so that our athletes don't suffer," the minister said.
(Read: International Olympic Committee continues to keep India out of Olympics fold)

In a statement on Thursday, IOC has said: "The Executive Board heard a report that the IOA's General Assembly had approved most of the amendments to the IOA's constitution requested by the IOC, but one specific clause had not been adopted. This clause, which deals specifically with the eligibility of members, is key to the good governance of the NOC and needs to be fully accepted before the suspended IOA can proceed with the elections. An official notification of the IOC's position will be sent to the IOA." (Also read: Ex-athletes alarmed as officials fight to delay India's return fold to Olympics)

The sports minister said IOA's reluctance to amend its constitution in accordance with the IOC's suggestion made him sad. "For the sportsperson one if very upset that the ban has not been lifted," Singh told NDTV in Delhi. (Related read: Wrestling set for final pitch to International Olympic Committee)

IOA has been in exile since last December when the IOC's executive board suspended India after Lalit Bhanot, who is facing corruption charges linked to the scandal-hit New Delhi Commonwealth Games in 2010, was elected secretary-general of the IOA.

The IOC wanted the IOA to amend its constitution so that officials facing criminal or corruption proceedings in court would be kept out of the IOA election process. The sports minister is keen on a 'clean' IOA and said the government was in sync with the IOC's policies.

"The IOC has a no tolerance on ethics (violation). The government is in sync with what the IOC says. Personal interests are prevailing over national interest and that's sad," the minister said. Till the IOA ban is lifted, Indian athletes can only compete under the IOC banner.