The Indian Olympic Association "has sought directions from its world parent body on how to resolve the country's ban from the Olympic movement after a crucial joint meeting was postponed for the second time in two months due to the stand-off between the IOA and the government," according to the PTI. IOA acting Chief V. K. Malhotra wrote a letter to the IOC "accusing the Sports Ministry of acting against finding a way to the country's return to the Olympic movement." He said in the letter that "the action of the Sports Ministry of appointing a committee to re-draft the controversial Sports Code negated the very purpose of having a joint meeting of the IOC, IOA and the government (PTI, 4/4). The IANS reported Malhotra "sought the directions from the IOC to end the present logjam at the earliest" so that Indian athletes are able to participate in int'l events under their national flag. The IOC suspended the Indian Olympic Association last December "for not complying with the Olympic Charter." Malhotra: "We await your early response so that a date is fixed for the meeting at the IOC headquarters. We appreciate your concern for an early solution to the problem but we are rather constrained to say that the sports ministry is bent on destroying the autonomy of the IOA and the NSFs" (IANS, 4/4).
