BENGALURU:Rajdeep Singh Gill, former Director General of Police, Punjab, is all set to lay down office as the president of the Basketball Federation of India after three terms, following the government’s guidelines.
As he does so, the BFI is engulfed in a controversy for the first time in its history prior to the annual general meeting in Bengaluru on March 27. In an exclusive chat with Express, Gill charted out the way forward. Excerpts...
On the controversy that erupted about the AGM
There is no controversy. We are doing everything as per our constitution and also following the government guidelines. It was decided at a meeting in which all office-bearers and executive committee members were present that the AGM will be held in Bengaluru.
On the meeting in Pune on March 28
Our constitution says only the president or the senior VP can chair any meeting. Both of us are here. The secretary and treasurer will be here. So who will chair the meeting in Pune? And who has called it?
On secretary Ajay Sud’s involvement
I was taken aback when someone told me that. Ajay will not do that without my knowledge and consent. Someone has forced him to. We will look into all that after we finish our business in Bengaluru.
On the Sports Ministry sending an observer
As per the guidelines, the government may or may not send an observer. His duty is mainly to see how the returning officer conducts the election, counting et al. There is only one nomination for all posts. Traditionally, we have always had unanimous choices.
On the govt’s outlook
I spoke to Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal. He categorically told me that legally, technically and morally we are correct.