MS Gill is undoubtedly the best sports minister that India has had in living memory. It would be very painful to see him go and be replaced by some other minister if UPA fails to garner the trust vote on July 22..

THE CONGRESS-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government faces a massive test when it faces the no trust vote on July 22. I am mostly indifferent to their predicament and will reserve judgment on the nuclear issue and the state of the Indian economy, but there is one thing, which makes me pray for their survival – this government has finally given us a capable sports minister in MS Gill and as a sports loving Indian, I dread the thought of a new government in New Delhi, which would mean a return to the days of good for nothing sports ministers once again.

So what makes Gill better than the other sports ministers?

Gill is an avid sports enthusiast and hence, he is concerned about the state of affairs of sports in this country. Most others have not known the ABCD of sports and haven’t really bothered about doing anything. More importantly, he is willing to take initiative and actually makes a tangible difference. Unlike the previous incumbent, Mani Shanker Aiyer, who was also a ‘sports fan’ (at least he claimed to be one) but a spineless and dormant minister, Gill is action orientated and willing to use the power he wields

In a short stint of less than six months this is what Gill has done:

He first went ahead and forced the supremely dictatorial and grossly incompetent KPS Gill to step down from the post of Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) chief. This in spite of the fact that KPS Gill still holds a lot of clout in Punjab – home state of both Gills and his sacking could have had far reaching political implications. Aiyer should now be literally forced to wear ‘chudis’ (bangles) and sit at home.

He then incurred the wrath of politicians and film stars by calling for only sportspersons to be allowed as torch –bearers in the Olympic torch relay. He then practiced what he preached by refusing the invitation to be a torch bearer himself. The likes of Amitabh ‘UP’s poor farmer’ Bachchan were incensed, but Gill cared a damn.

Gill lambasted the public broadcaster – Doordarshan for giving the Junior Asia Cup Hockey a miss. Most ministers have let Doordarshan misuse its position and dictate terms to sports federations and private channels but have rarely taken it to task for failing to fulfill its national obligations.

Gill has also taken the initiative to talk to Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon and invite him to bring his side to India. The Spanish club are already interested and the minister’s move could give a major fillip to football in India. Compare to the initiatives taken by another minister in the same UPA cabinet – Priya Ranjan Das Munshi, who is also the head of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) – he has ensured that India have dropped 60 places in the FIFA rankings in his tenure.

Is there a scenario where the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) could just settle for making the likes of Munshi the scapegoats for everything and let the others like Gill carry on?

Or can the Congress offer Munshi’s head to pacify the Communists in West Bengal in return for their support?

Just imagine what all Gill could achieve, if he was allowed to continue. Based on the above points we can say with reasonable confidence that he is easily the best sports minister that India has had in living memory. I would be very pained to see him go and be replaced by some other sports minister in the next cabinet.

It’s the possibility of that pain, which has forced me to pray for the UPA government to survive their acid test. I appeal to all the sports-loving members of Parliament to forget their party loyalties and vote for the greater good of sport in this country.