Enact legislation to oversee sports bodies: MPs

New Delhi, Apr 22 (UNI) Agitated over the Indian Hockey Federation's (IHF) secretary general Jothikumaran having been caught on camera accepting bribe, members in both the Houses of Parliament today demanded that the government should enact legislation to bring the sports bodies under its preview to stamp out corruption.

Raising the issue in the Lok Sabha, V K Malhotra, who himself is a senior official in the Indian Olympic Association(IOA) said ''the issue should not end with Jothikumaran's resignation, but criminal proceedings should also be launched against him for bringing disrepute to the Nation.'' He was of the view that IOA and the Government should discuss the matter to find out ways and means to prevent such situation arising again.

Several members wanted a legislation, to ensure that government could oversee the functioning of the bodies so that the players get a fair deal.

In the Rajya Sabha, Samajwadi Party member Shahid Siddiqui demanded resignation of IHF chief KPS Gill and also disbanding of the federation.

Samajwadi Party's Mohan Singh regretted that hockey has been reduced to ''a joke'', despite being the national game.

''When we asked how we failed, Government told us that the Federation is autonomous and independent. Has the autonomy been given to do wrong things?'' he wanted to know.

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