Farooq Abdullah: Why should Srinivasan quit?

As pressure mounts on BCCI chief N Srinivasan's ouster in the IPL spot-fixing and betting scandal, he garnered some support in the form of union minister Farooq Abdullah. Farooq said it makes no sense in demanding Srinivasan's resignation as there is no proof of his involvement in any wrongdoing. "Why should he resign?," Abdullah, president of the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association, said. When pointed out that Srinivasan's son-in-law is alleged to have been involved in betting, Abdullah countered, "How does it matter?" "If my son-in-law is involved, it does not mean I have to step down. Let the investigation get over. If it comes out in investigation that N Srinivasan is responsible, he will go, he is an honourable man," Abdullah said. Abdullah, who is the union minister for New and Renewable Energy, said betting in sports should be legalised in the country. "Betting must be made legal, otherwise it would continue. Worldwide it is there. You are betting in Dubai, you are betting in England, in America, why not in India?" he questioned. Abdullah also said sports and politicians are inseparable. "The day you take politics out of sport, there will be no sport," he said. Abdullah's views on politicians in sports governance are in contrast to those of his son and Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah who believes that the job should be left to sports persons. "I am personally of the view that sports bodies should be administered by sports persons - that is the great favour we can do to sports people," Omar had said recently. The Union minister ruled himself out from the top post in BCCI saying, "I am not fit to be president of BCCI."