It refers to totally unjustified majority-decision by Union Cabinet to extend tax-exemption to super-rich International Cricket Council (ICC) overlooking strong protests by several ministers, including even Sports Minister Ajay Maken. The move was totally unnecessary in view of ICC being already super-rich also because of a very high amount of Indian money already going there because of people’s craze for cricket in India. Rather ICC should be generous to provide some appreciable part of its earnings and funds for developing sports’ infrastructure and developing sports in India in the manner Rotary Foundation does by returning donations received to it from India (or other developing and under-developed nations) by rather adding an equal amount from its funds contributed by developed nations. Tax received from super-rich bodies like ICC could better be received for public-welfare schemes in India.
It was a conflict of interest with ICC President Sharad Pawar participating in the meeting of Union Cabinet taking such a decision against national exchequer. President of India should reverse the anti-public decision of Union Cabinet.
Subhash Chandra Agrawal
Delhi