New Delhi: Indian Olympic Association president P.T. Usha cited on Monday, April 8 that the executive committee (EC) members of the association are not working as “a team” and attempting to “sideline” her in a letter addressed to the members. Usha is also a part of the EC.
This development suggests that there is a “breakdown of trust between members in the EC,” The New Indian Express reported.
Notably, a majority of the EC members had suggested that they had removed Usha’s executive assistant Ajay Narang from the post. However, in her letter Usha underlined that the EC can neither appoint nor terminate Narang. As per the report, the EC also claimed that they were “coerced to appoint” the CEO Raghuram Iyer. Interesetingly, Iyer and Narang have been working and discharging their duties.
“I am left with no option but to remind you all that the day-to-day administrative functions including hiring and firing of staff is not the job of the Executive Council. As the EC, we should be using our powers and rights for much more important aspects of taking the IOA to heights,” Usha wrote.
On the termination documents, she said, “The termination documents are an absolute nullity. The appointment of the executive assistant to the president is not within the jurisdiction of the Executive Council and thus the termination is non est and bad in law.”
Usha wrote the letter after nine EC members signed and pasted a notice directing ‘unauthorised persons’ not to enter the IOA Bhawan.
“It is directed to the IOA staff to remove any copies of the notice posted within the IOA Bhawan. Further, the IOA staff is instructed to follow guidance and directives from my office via my executive assistant,” Usha mentioned in the letter, as per the report.
“It is disheartening to see that we are still not able to work as a team and each of your acts is an attempt to sideline me,” she added.
As per TNIE report, Ajay Patel, who is the senior vice president, is in the forefront in the rebellion. In her letter, Usha underlined that the senior VP can only take charge during the president’s absence or unavailability.
