:Ludhiana: Ref: A glimpse into I S Bindra’s totalitarian hold over Punjab Cricket Association.
Subject: I on behalf of countless others, beseech the Punjab Government to bring about an ordinance, and take over the management of PCA Stadiium, Mohali. Dear Sir:
Mr. Bindra, single handedly, has robbed the Punjab State of its valued assets; for his personal gains. CBI has come to this determination, after an inquiry was conducted on the directions of the then CM Punjab Mrs. Bhattal. Sufficient evidence exists on record with the office of Attorney General, Punjab. Among other things recommended is the takeover of the management of PCA, and departmental action against Mr I S Bindra.
I wish to give you an inside view of how, Mr. Bindra’s oligarchy has maintained a vice like grip over PCA. I am reproducing below a list of office bearers of PCA and its executive committee. A careful perusal of the same exposes, Mr. I S Bindra’s modus operandi for maintaining complete control over PCA.
Transparency and accountability are unheard commodities. Mr. Bindra’s insidious mind has worked overtime in making sure that he includes amongst office bearers, IAS officers holding important portfolios in the following departments.
PUDA
Because PCA acquired 14 acres of PUDA land, deceitfully, during I S Bindra’s tenure as Sports Secretary Punjab, including 2.61 acres of forcefully occupied land.
Excise & Taxation Punjab
With their help, PCA has exempted it self from paying crores of rupees by way of entertainment tax.
PERSONAL attached with the CM’ Office
Ministry of personnel, Govt. of India; in 1999, 2000, 2003 and 2006 had asked the state to initiate and complete departmental action against Mr. Bindra.
In light of the above realities, such IAS officers are Mr. Bindra’s life-line. If promoting cricket was the aim, then experienced cricketers should have been accommodated as office bearers.
Office Bearers Punjab Cricket Association: Term 2004-2008
1. I.S. Bindra President 2. M.P. Pandove Hony. Sec.
3. D.P.Reddy Hony. Jt. Sec. 4. G.S.Walia Hony. Treasurer
5. Lalit Modi Vice-President 6. Ashwani Kumar Vice-President
7. Sanjit K Sinha Vice-President 8. Dr. B.C.Gupta Vice-President
9. Mr. Sudhir Mital Vice-President PUDA Representative
A.S.Chatwal (Chief Administrator, PUDA)IAS.
A brief history of office bearers.
I S Bindra IAS, President PCA
Former DC Patiala
M. P. Pandove PCS, Gen. Sec. PCA
Formerly DSO Patiala, with the aid of his guru I S Bindra became a PCS officer, and served with Punjab as Registrar Co-operative society.
D P Reddy IAS, Hon. Sec. PCA
He is Excise & Taxation Commissioner, Punjab
Sanjit K. Sinha IAS, Vice-President PCA
Former DC Patiala, CS to CM Amrinder Singh and Chairman PPSC.
Dr. B C Gupta IAS, Vice-President PCA
Formerly DC Patiala, Secretary Home Punjab.
Sudhir Mittal IAS, Vice-President PCA
Formerly, Excise and Taxation Commissioner, Punjab
Lalit Modi Vice-President PCA & President RCA
He is also the President of Rajasthan Cricket Association, Punjab is bereft of capable persons that we need to appoint person from other states.
Ashwani Kumar Vice-President PCA
He is the owner of Punjab Kesri group of newspapers, and is stationed in Delhi. He has been rewarded with V. Pres. of PCA because; he published damaging stories, in his group of newspapers, pertaining to the activities of PCA and Mr. I S Bindra.
G S Walia Treasurer PCA
Formerly was employed with Bakeman Biscut Factory, Patiala. His undisputed loyalty to Mr. Pandove was rewarded in kind.
A S Chattwal IAS PUDA Representative
Former, Chief Administrator PUDA, ADC Patiala, Sec. PSEB. Mr. Bindra needs him so badly that he has created a special post of PUDA representative in PCA.
Salient features of the above information are as follows.
* Out-of the ten elected office bearers 6 are IAS officers (serving or retired) and one PCS. Majority of them have been posted at Patiala in some capacity or the other. (M P Pandove belongs to Patiala)
* Two are from outside the state, Lalit Modi and Ashwani Kumar.
* There must not be a single organization, so heavily dominated by IAS officers. It seems that they have no other work except to take care of PCA’s day-to-day activities. It will be foolish to imagine that all of them attend PCA meetings together. Most probably, at PCA meetings only two chairs are placed; one for the almighty I S Bindra, and the other for his favorite disciple, Mr. Pandove.
Executive Committee
1. J. P. Shoor Gen. Sec. Amritsar 2. Surjit Rai Gen. Sec. Jalandhar
3. Vinod Chitkara Gen. Sec. Ldh. 4. R.P.Pandove Gen. Sec. Patiala
5. Mohinder Singh Gen. Sec. Chd. 6. O.D.Sharma Gen. Sec. Bhatinda
7. A.G.S.Bawa Gen. Sec. Faridkot 8. Mr. Krishan Lal
9. Rakesh Rathore Jalandhar 10. Mr. Rajeev Bali
11. Mr. R.P.Singla Chandigarh 12. Mr. Parminder Singh Ropar
13. Mr. Rajiv Mittal Hoshiarpur 14. Mr. Viswajeet Khanna IAS
15. Justice S.S.Sodhi
Officially, majority of them are Gen. Sec. of various districts affiliated with PCA, but in reality they are all yes-men. They can nod their head in only one direction i.e. vertically. The same persons have been holding office year-after-year. Mohalla elections, having a budget in thousands, are more fiercely contested than PCA elections. I very much doubt if democratic elections have ever been held. The two lists are totally devoid of past cricketers who have performed exemplary at both international and national stage; to name a few Bishan Singh Bedi, Navjot Singh Sidhu, Yashpal Sharma, Yograj Singh etc.
Democratization of PCA is a must. A sports body has to be transparent and accountable, and this is not possible until I S Bindra’s is at the helm of this organization. Therefore, it is imperative upon Punjab government to bring about an ordinance and take over the management of PCA at the earliest. Simultaneously, a inquiry should be conducted into PCA’s financial accountability.
One of the first things that Vasundhra Raje, CM Rajasthan, did after assuming power was to bring under government control, Rajasthan Cricket Association, the same is the need of the hour.
Thank you,
Sarabjit Singh Kahlon
Kahlon Villa, Opp. Tel. Exchange VPO Bhattian-Bet.
Ludhiana.
Ph. 98885 64455 0161 2826123 Email right2justice@rediffmail.com