Ajay Maken, Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs, asked the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to immediately sack the tainted Suresh Kalmadi as IOA president. Maken said it was high time the Olympic body (IOC) take action against Kalmadi.


Suresh Kalmadi

"I have seen a copy of that letter and it seems IOC is unhappy with the IOA because it has not taken action against Suresh Kalmadi, who was sacked as the chairman of the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee. So this is something in line with what I as a Sports Minister have been saying. I strongly feel IOA should take action against him or Kalmadi should voluntarily resign,'' he was quoted as saying in the media yesterday.

Maken said the government might be forced to take action against Kalmadi. "Since IOC has itself taken up the issue with the IOA, any move by the government would be seen as an intrusion by the IOA. So they again might use the plea why the Indian government is intruding into the affairs of IOA. So as far as we are concerned, we have made it clear that Kalmadi should be removed but if he is not removed, government may be forced to take action,'' he added.