Dissolved IHF demands election; threatens to take legal action

The dissolved Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) today demanded early elections to restore itself by the IOA and has even threatened to take legal action against the governing body if their demands are not met.

The IHF, which was disbanded by the IOA last year, was here with represetatives of 28 state associations and said it wanted that the governing body should soon announce the dates for the next election.

”It has been 11 months since the IHF was dissolved and since then ad-hoc committee is running the game. What we want is fair and transparent elections which we were promised by IOA president Suresh Kalmadi,” Bengal Hockey Association (BHA) President J B Roy said.

Roy claimed that there are 28 state associations who want to have the elections and said another four associations would also come out soon after the elections are announced.

”Elections were due to be held this year in April but there has been no word on that matter from the IOA till now. What we want is that a democratic body should again be put in place to take care of the game in the country.

”We met Mr Kalmadi in September last year and he had said that soon the elections would take place but since then nothing has happened,” he added.

Earlier in the morning, Jammu & Kashmir Hockey Association President Narinder Batra has said in a statement that the members, who were involved in today’s meeting, did not have his support.

Roy said he was himself surprised to see Batra take a U-turn on the issue.

”Mr Batra was invited for today’s meeting but why he did not turn up, even we fail to understand because day before yesterday he spoke to me and offered his full support to us,” he pointed.

The state association members further threatened to take legal action if IOA does not put IHF back on track.

”National hockey is run by state associations and not by ad-hoc committees. We have even taken legal opinion and if our voices are not heard, we would not mind to move court,” BHA secretary Gurbax Singh said.

However, the members claimed that they di not have any problems with even KPS Gill returning back to contest elections.

”We don’t bother who contests the elections. Any body can contest the elections, but yes, it should be fair and transparent which stands as a democratic body,” Roy insisted.

Representatives of the dissolved IHF will meet the IOA secretary general Randhir Singh tomorrow to hand over the memorandum to him and said they will also ask Sports Minister MS Gill to show his involvement in the matter.

Roy further claimed that hockey in the country was in dire straits and said with events like World Cup, Commonwealth Games and Asian Games lined-up, it was essential that various aspects of the game be conceptualised.

”We don’t say that the step taken by the IOA was wrong because at that it might have been essential to give the charge to the ad-hoc committee but a temporary body can not run the game forever,” Roy added.