(Source: File)Railways and Services will cease to have voting rights in all sports federations and the Indian Olympic Association, according to a diktat from the Union government. However, even the Lodha Committee, which was entrusted with recommending reforms in the functioning of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, had asked for Railways and Services to lose their voting rights. Through a letter sent in February, May and later as well, the sports ministry told all the 30-odd sporting federations that voting rights of Railways and the Services be withdrawn. The All Indian Football Federation (AIFF) has accordingly withdrawn the voting rights of both organisations, even though Prabhu wrote to AIFF president Praful Patel against the move. Not having voting rights is tantamount to not having a say in the management of federations and the selection, training and conduct of national and international events.

Source: Indian Express June 28, 2017 21:20 UTC