Silchar District Sports Association has a special reputation in the state’s landscape, they have been awarded one of the best for their sporting activities, and this stature was not achieved overnight. This was possible because of the contributions of many dedicated people. Silchar DSA has nurtured many sporting icons in the history of Assam and they served and represented the state in many fields of sports and athletics even at the national level. But Assam Olympic Association (AOA) striped the membership of such an organization terming it unconstitutional.
Established in 1957, Silchar DSA has a vibrant history and a rich tradition. Perhaps AOA secretary Lakshya Konwar is unaware of these, had he been aware he would not have interfered in Silchar DSA’s internal affair with instigation from the lobby of the ruling party. Last year the drama unfolded with the accusation of undermining the constitution against Silchar DSA, which eventually evolved into a faceoff between DSA and AOA. The crisis surfaced again after a hibernation of four months.
An interesting fact in this context is both DSA and AOA are autonomous bodies; they have their own distinct constitution. AOA is the guiding organisation of DSA, and Indian Olympic Association is the guiding body of AOA. They ought to be functioning at par with their constitution, but this is not happening. In reality, these organizations have become platform for political and power tussles, which is hampering the prospects of sports; sports are being sidelined by the power play.
Another significant fact here is that in order to amend or reform the constitution, all the members have to be intimated regarding the changes, and the issues are debated discussed rigorously before enacting any changes in the constitution. But AOA didn’t follow the protocol, as on Thursday, in their AGM, AOA amended their constitution, but no members were informed in this regard.
According to the latest changes in AOA’s constitution, each and every subordinate body has to call for a general assembly and have to reform the body after their due tenure. Upon failing to do this, the membership would be canceled and the governing body would be dismantled. An ad-hoc committee has to be formed on an urgent basis. But Silchar DSA had written to AOA Secretary Lakshya Konwar asking for a copy of AOA’s constitution, DSA got no reply. Now they have brought changes in the constitution by keeping all the members in dark. It seems that all these moves have been targeting Silchar DSA.
This discontent doesn’t end here; they have formed a five-member committee for the organization whose membership they have canceled. But all the official relation between DSA and AOA ends with the cancellation of membership, so how did they make a committee?
Lakshya Konwar had alleged that the erstwhile secretary of DSA, Shithil Dhar, had disregarded the constitution by organizing general meetings even after the end of his tenure. Again he (AOA secretary) is asking Shithil Dhar to amend the constitution of DSA. The constitution that Lakshya Konwar is pointing, to is the same by which DSA canceled the membership of twenty members.
Then wherein lay the problem? If DSA violated its own rulebook, it doesn’t warrant the AOA secretary for his interference, as it is in the ambit of DSA’s internal affairs. AOA can cancel DSA’s membership on two occasions, one, if DSA fails to pay the annual fee, and two, if DSA doesn’t participate in AOA’s sporting programs.
Silchar DSA is not in violation of any of these. DSA has been participating in all the AOA games, and paid the fees last October, the on what basis did AOA cancel DSA’s membership?
There’s another point, if the current secretary of Silchar DSA Bijendra Prasad Singh is illegal and unauthorized, then how come AOA accepts the cheque signed by Singh?
So has Lakshya Konwar canceled Silchar DSA’s membership just because a few ruling party leaders wanted him to do so? Or has he been compelled to do so? If he wanted to solve the problem, then he would call for a meeting with all the stakeholders. He would have wanted to listen and hear from all parties involved here. The constitution was amended with the order from the AOA secretary, and DSA has been following it, then what is the fault of DSA?
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