DSA Existing Committee To Contest AOA's Decision : Khela Hobe Signal From DSA

Finally, Silchar District Sports Association has turned Its head up amidst the ongoing controversies. The special general meeting of DSA was canceled after a fierce protest on Sunday. A governing council meeting was called after the demonstrations in the morning with the sole agenda of discussing Assam Olympic Association’s letter. All the members unequivocally decided to stand up in unity, and they also criticized members who are already compromised with the other side.

DSA secretary Bijendra Prasad Singh clarified that excluding twenty clubs and educational institutions were not taken only by the president and Secretary; it was a collective decision. Moreover, the decision was taken adhering to constitutional provisions. The Constitution mandates that the club or Organisation that remains inactive for two year would be excluded from the list. So why the decision is being protested if it is constitutional. “Why and under whose instruction the protest was staged, what was their intention?” Asked Bijendra Prasad Singh. “DSA wrote for a copy of AOA’s constitution many times, but we didn’t get any response,” he added.

The act of blocking the main gate and sit-in protest was condemned from the meeting. However, DSA’s joint-secretary Mridul Mazumder, objected to this motion as this was not on the agenda of the meeting. Some other members also supported the motion of Mridul Mazumder. Then they faced the rage of their members. They were informed that, despite being present at the October 2nd meeting, on which the decision was taken, they didn’t say anything. But they opposed the decision on other platforms. They can’t defame the Organisation from inside. They were asked to clarify their locus standi.

Mridul Mazumder was strictly warned, “If someone believes the decision of the cancellation of membership was wrong, they can resign from their post and go with the government side.”

All the members asserted their unity and gave the message that there is a limit. It won’t be entertained anymore. Advocate Soumen Chowdhury was specially called to the meeting, where he underscored the difference and autonomy of DSA and AOA as a separate entity; they have a different working book. Advocate Choudhury explained why AOA is unauthorized to make the decision for DSA. “AOA functions under Indian Olympic Association,” Soumen Choudhury told at the conference and added that AOA must abide by IOA. Only under two conditions can AOA dispel DSA from membership if DSA doesn’t participate in the events of the Indian Olympic Association and if they don’t pay the fees in time. But Silchar DSA hasn’t done any of these. Silchar DSA has participated in many events and just paid the fees a few days back. DSA members were optimistic hearing what Advocate Soumen Choudhury argued.

Ashis Ray, the Secretary of Bijay Shanghai, raised a vital question during the Governing Council meeting. He asked, “If Bijay Sangha wants to amend its constitution, does that require DSA’s approval?” The answer came “NO”. Ashis Ray then asked why Assam Olympic Association is interfering in DSA’s internal matter and whose interest?”

In Sunday’s meeting, it was decided that Advocate Soumen Choudhury would draft the response letter, which had to be submitted to Assam Olympic Association within one week. And a letter was sent to AOA on Monday accordingly. A copy of this letter will be forwarded to CM Dr. Himanta Bishwa Sharma.

Usually, the Secretary reads out the letter to other members that are being sent from the DSA committee. But the letter that is sent to AOA was not read out to the members, as Bijendra Singh said, “I have no faith upon few members of the committee, they are working against the interest of DSA, they are leaking out information, so I don’t want to read the letter.”

Babul Hore, the president of the DSA, told at the end of the meeting, “Everything is permitted in our Organisation. If anyone doesn’t like any of our decisions, they can raise it to the committee. The Constitution has a provision for this. Few members are speaking against the organization from outside rather than using the internal platform. We can’t accept that.”

But it was evident from the day’s event that DSA has given a clear signal of ‘Khela Hobe’ to Assam Olympic Association.