PATIALA: To break it's deadlock with the Government related to shortage of ammunition for Indian shooters in the Olympic year, The National Rifle association of India (NRAI) has been banking upon its hope with the prime Minster of India Dr. Manmohan Singh.

Baljit Singh Sethi Secretary General of NRAI said here Thursday that they have apprised Dr. Manmohan Singh, the prime minister, regarding the shortage of ammunition. He said that he has written a letter to him regarding attitude of sports ministry.

He said that Sethi said, "After so much hue and cry over this matter the ministry have woken up and asked me to meet them... I hope that there will be some way out to import the pellets".

He was here in connection with 'Indian Masters 2008' of 6th Sardar Sajjan Singh Sethi Memorial Shooting Championship at New Moti Bagh Gun Club Shooting Range, at village Main near here.

Sethi said that 'For the last 23 years the government has been providing us with all the ammunitions, but suddenly I don't know what happened they have stopped doing so for the last two and half years. They informed me Dec 13 that we have to apply for the import licence Dec, he added.

Sethi wanted to know why the government, which had been importing ammunition for 23 years, could not do it now. 'I think they have some internal problems, and trying to shift the blame on us.'

Sethi reiterated even if NRAI gets the license immediately, it would take at least three months for the ammunition to reach the shooters. Given the fact that this is an Olympic year, it is not easy to procure ammunition at short notice.

NRAI secretary-general went to the extent of saying that the shooters may not even go to Beijing.

'I don't think it will be worthwhile sending the shooters to the Olympics. The damage has been done. I will take up this issue in our general body meeting next month. It is a pity that shooters were the best medal hopes and they are treated so shabbily,' he said.