NRAI mum on guidelines

The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) announced on Monday that elections to the federation would be conducted as per its constitution.

The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) announced on Monday that elections to the federation would be conducted as per its constitution.

“We will furnish the returning officer (Justice (retd) Mehtab Singh Gill) with the details, including a copy of the Sports Code. It is up to him to constitute guidelines for the smooth conduct," NRAI president Raninder Singh said on the April 6 elections.

However, he did not elaborate on the federation's guidelines, like voting rights to life members, which are in conflict with the Sports Code.

Asked if a Plan B is in place in case some guidelines are found to be in violation, he said, “It's premature to say anything.”

In recent times, the sports ministry has asked national federations to adhere to the Sports Code. The NRAI decision to nominate the octogenarian Col (retd) Jaswant Singh as its honorary secretary has drawn flak.

The NRAI could face another embarrassment if the ministry takes note of violations during the elections.

Raninder insisted that as per the International Sports Shooting Federation (ISSF) directives, officials of state units who were involved in the Indian Olympic Association polls last year would not be allowed to cast their vote.