Lodha Panel should be used as template for all sports, not only cricket: Congress

New Delhi, July 19 (ANI): Welcoming the Supreme Court's verdict accepting major recommendations of the Lodha Committee on administrative changes in the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the Congress on Tuesday called for the proposals to be applied in other sports federations across the states as well. Speaking to ANI here, Congress leader Manish Tewari said that time has come for the Lodha Committee recommendations to be extrapolated across all sports federations in all states. "Well, as I was the counsel for Mr. Bishan Singh Bedi, Kirti Azad and a bunch of other cricketers in the SC in the Lodha Committee matter, we obviously welcome the decision of the SC and now the time has come that the Lodha committee recommendations should be extrapolated across all sports federations in all states," he said. Stating that the Indian Olympics Association must also implement the suggestions of the committee, Tewari added that it provides the template for the manner in which a sports organisation needs to be run. "So therefore why should other sports be treated differently from cricket? What is good for the goose is good for the gander. What is good for cricket is good for other sports as well. I think the time has come that the Lodha Committee recommendations should be used as a template and the principles should be applied across Indian Olympic Association and all the sports federations," he said. Hailing the Supreme Court's verdict, Justice RM Lodha yesterday said that it was a great day for Indian cricket and a great day for Indian sports as well. Calling on cricket fans to rejoice the verdict of the apex court, Justice Lodha told ANI that this verdict will only better the sport and its administration. "Our report is exhaustive and I'm sure now that with the decision of the Supreme Court out, the BCCI will have to implement the report at the earliest. Our one year of efforts has brought the results. This will only better the sport and its administration," he said. Asserting that ministers are not able to give their best to cricket as they have other commitments, Justice Lodha further said that given the level at which Indian cricket it right now, it demands full devotion from its administration. Earlier in a landmark judgement, the Supreme Court accepted major recommendations of Justice R.M. Lodha-led panel on structural reforms in the (BCCI). The apex court has given six months time to the BCCI to implement the recommendations. The court accepted the recommendation of 'one state, one vote', which was opposed by the cricket body stating that there are states where cricket is not popular and the allotment of voting rights will not serve any purpose. The Lodha panel recommendation of having no minister in the BCCI above the age of 70 years has also been accepted. The apex court also told the board that no minister or government official can be a BCCI official. The Supreme Court, which felt that BCCI discharges a public service and has complete monopoly over cricket in India, has left it on the Parliament to decide whether the BCCI should come under RTI or not. The Lodha panel will oversee transition from the old to new regime within the next six months. (ANI)