New Delhi: The elite Delhi Golf Club has removed the names of some political heavyweights, including Union ministers Arun Jaitley and Ravi Shankar Prasad, from its membership. Other big names which have been struck out from register of the club in Lutyens’ Delhi include NCP leader Sharad Pawar, his daughter and MP Supriya Sule, BJP rebel Shatrughan Sinha and former urban development minister and Congress leader Kamal Nath.
A club circular in a rather blunt fashion said, “It may be ensured that no club facility is extended to the above (those in the list) members and their spouses”.
According to an internal circular of the club dated May 16, Congress leaders Vijay Jawahar Lal Darda, politician and cricket administrator Rajiv Shukla, NCP leader Udayanraje Bhosale and TDP MP Kesineni Srinivas have also been removed from the membership.
When contacted, Delhi Golf Club secretary Rajiv Hora said that these were government nominated members and the government has withdrawn their names.
“It (the circular) was only an internal communication meant to inform the staff that these members have been removed,” he added.
The secretary said that the club, which has around 200 government nominated members,had no role in the decision. The government keeps re-nominating the members.
Delhi Golf Club is not new to controversies over nominated members. It was in news a couple of years ago when the UPA government withdrew 27 nominated members, many of whom were serving or the retired bureaucrats, and recommended new names.
Interestingly, Congress’ Kamal Nath, who has lost his membership in the latest round, was the urban development minister then.
The club is said to be ultra restrictive in its membership. The managing committee of the club, much sought after for its pristine surroundings, has three nominees from the ministry of urban development for a term of two years. Most of its members are public servants.
Some of the who’s who of Delhi’s power elite are members of the club which has often found itself in the eye of storm. Last year, it faced allegations of racial discrimination when a woman from Meghalaya was denied entry for wearing Jainsem, a traditional dress worn by Khasis.
The club, spread over 220 acres, comprises an 18-hole golf course which is part of the Asian PGA tour. Several historical monuments stand within the club premises providing it a unique setting. It is one of the oldest and most prestigious clubs in Delhi. Aspiring members have long waiting list of at least 25 years.
