Indian news round-up

Uma Bharti reiterates stand on Pak tour: Union Sports Minister Uma Bharti said on Monday that she was in the dark on the moves taken by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) to try and persuade the Indian Government to reconsider its decision on the Indian team not touring Pakistan later this season. Bharti said "I am not aware of any such move." She added that the Government had taken a decision not to send the team to Pakistan on the basis of the report by the External Affairs Ministry.

Meanwhile, Uma Bharti in a reply during question hour in Parliament said that the ministry was formulating a sports policy. Replying to a question, she said "we are coming out soon with a sports policy with catch them young being its cornerstone. The policy's emphasis would be to ensure that parents encourage their children to participate in sports."

The Minister of State for Sports Pon. Radhakrishnan, during question hour in Parliament on Monday said that there was no move to take over the BCCI in the wake of allegations that there were irregularities in its functioning. Replying to a question, he said the government is studying the recently submitted CBI report on match-fixing and other irregularities. He said the future course of action would be decided after getting comments from all concerned.

The Minister also said that the BCCI has been asked to offer its comments on various aspects of the report, including the observations made on its functioning. The CBI report made public on November 3, had given a clean chit to Kapil Dev in the match-fixing and betting scandal.

Radhakrishnan also informed the Lok Sabha that fixed deposits amounting to Rs 1.04 crore, term deposits of $15,75,000 and £ 1,23,000 were found and inventorised during the survey in the office of BCCI treasurer Kishore Rungta at Jaipur.