Mountaineer minister MS Gill climbs down

A distinguished bureaucrat,an avid mountaineer or so he would like us believe Gill took over the portfolio from a controversial Mani Shankar Aiyar,with less that two-and-a-half years to go for the Games an unenviable task,given that preparations for the event had hardly begun.

For somebody who is prone to extensively saying,I was there when…, Manohar Singh Gill,74,indeed was there at the helm of affairs when India against overwhelming odds hosted a successful Commonwealth Games. A distinguished bureaucrat,an avid mountaineer or so he would like us believe Gill took over the portfolio from a controversial Mani Shankar Aiyar,with less that two-and-a-half years to go for the Games an unenviable task,given that preparations for the event had hardly begun. In UPA 2,he was not only retained but also promoted to the rank of Cabinet Minister. But that was then. As the push came to a shove,and the pictures of leaking roofs and filthy toilets made the front pages of international dailies days ahead of the Games,he was even snubbed by the Prime Minister in a meeting. The Games aside,he was a popular figure among sportspersons though not as much among their coaches (ask P Gopichand or Satpal) whom he felicitated more often that his predecessors. In hindsight,a little bit less self-aggrandisement wouldve served him better.

Credit

Doubled the pension for former sportspersons. The money for Khel Ratna and Arjuna awards was increased substantially. One of the last announcements that he made was to sanction Rs 22 crore for the Commonwealth and Asian Games medallists.

The ambitious Panchayat Yuva Krida aur Khel Abhiyan (PYKKA),aimed at setting up sports infrastructure in every village,received a major boost during his tenure.

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Brought the Indian Olympic Association and various NSFs under the Right to Information Act. After receiving a rap by the Delhi High Court,restored a clause limiting the tenures of sports administrators (IOA and NSFs) in the office.

Debit

Was criticised for an autocratic way of functioning.

During his first term,MS Gill had played a crucial role in the suspension of the KPS Gill-led Indian Hockey Federation. However,the Delhi High Court later overruled the disaffiliation of the IHF by the IOA and de-recognition of the body by the ministry.

The delays in Commonwealth Games preparations saw him getting isolated within the government.

Gaffes

Formula One is not a sport.

Who are you, he asked Pullela Gopichand,while felicitating Saina Nehwal.