Sports Ministry's decision to bar athletes with foreign passports from representing the country in international events contradicts the government policy on People of Indian Origin and hence should be reconsidered, Rajya Sabha member Rajeev Shukla said in New Delhi on Monday. "On one hand the government is extending all the facilities to the PIOs by granting them dual citizenship and rights on properties in India, on the other hand, the Ministry of Sports contradicts the policy of the government of India," Shukla, also chairman of the BCCI Media and Finance Committee, said in a letter addressed to Sports Minister M S Gill. The Ministry, in guidelines issued last week, shut the door on players who don't have Indian passports, saying the move was aimed at nurturing home talent at the grassroots level. Tennis is the sport most affected by the decision as US-based players Prakash Amritraj and Shikha Uberoi become ineligible to play. "The newly established norms leave the Indian tennis team at crossroads as the tennis quartet of Prakash Amritraj, Sunitha Rao and Neha Uberoi - all US citizens – are ineligible to wear the tri-colours resulting in effectively breaking our tennis team," he said. "I would personally request the ministry to re-think its decision of not according a slot to PIOs and Overseas Citizens of India (OCIs) is unjust especially to the players who have bestowed the nation with accolades at the international level through their performances," he added. Shukla felt either the new policy should be relaxed or affected players should be given dual citizenship to resolve the vexed issue. "The decision has brought upon a radical shift which shall further create furore among the players and masses towards the ministry and the government. It is essential to have further deliberations on the issue so that a mutually agreeable resolve could be established. "It is my earnest appeal for you urgently look into this pressing issue and formulate a resolve that shall suffice to all the entities concerned," he said.
