Tussle breaks out among key tourism players over WGA

Srinagar, Dec 17 (UNI) A tussle has broken out between two warring groups over the formation of the Winter Games Association (WGA), casting a shadow on the smooth holding of winter games at the world famous tourist resort of Gulmarg.

A group, led by Jammu and Kashmir Tourist Development Corporation (JKTDC) Managing Director Aziz Wani, has approached the High Court, challenging the formation of the WGA by Tourism Director Farooq Ahmed Shah and others on December 4 this year.

Addressing a news conference here recently, Mr Wani said they have approached the court to stop this ''illegal and unconstitutional'' move by some ''non-professionals''.

He said the WGA had been formed in 1988 with Dr Farooq Abdullah as its patron. However, due to turmoil in Kashmir, the activities of WGA were restricted, he added.

Mr Wani said the elections to the association were held in 2000 and he was unanimously elected as its president.

''An executive body was also formed that time. However, the outgoing members gave no account of the money spent on various programmes. We noticed several others malpractices as well.'' He said financial assistance received from various organisations was spent without maintaining the records and on such activities which were not relevant for the promotion of the winter games.

Mr Wani alleged that both over-aged and under-aged skiers were nominated for participation in national and international events without the approval of the executive committee.

He said the people with ''vested interest'' formed the new association here on December 4 without any information.

Mr Wani said they thought it necessary to challenge the formation of the illegal association and as such approached the court.

Earlier, the group, led by Mr Shah, formed its own association after it accused Mr Wani of continuously postponing the elections to the WGA at the end of its term in November 2005.

The state Sports Council had also fixed April this year as the deadline for holding fresh elections to the WGA, but nothing happened, it said.

The group also accused Mr Wani of not taking any interest in the affairs of the WGA and even failed in convening a meeting of the association during the past more than six years.

UNI AG VD ND1752