Gurbux lashes out at IOA

KOLKATA: Former Olympian and Secretary of the Bengal Hockey Association, Gurbux Singh, charged that the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) is meddling too much in the affairs of current national body, Hockey India.

“Ever since the IHF (Indian Hockey Federation) was disbanded the IOA has been making too much interference in Hockey India by putting its implants in the top positions,” said Gurbux in a news conference on Wednesday.

“There is a blatant effort to ignore the existing State affiliates and bring up new State bodies which would ensure their allegiance to the Hockey India officials,” said Gurbux, who is also an observer for HI’s affiliation process.

“Such transformation has already happened in many States but there others who are resisting Hockey India’s underhand dealings,” he added. This has prompted the existing affiliates like Rajasthan and Mumbai to go to court against the national body, he said.

Echoes Pargat’s view

When asked about former India captain Pargat Singh’s recent criticism of the IOA President Suresh Kalmadi, Gurbux corroborated the former.

The BHA Secretary said that his association escaped the oblique interference of the HI as the Bengal Olympic Association shot down a request from the latter to name a different body from the State.

“What we want is free and fair elections and for that to happen current office-bearers of HI should come forward and disclose whether they will field their candidature. If they are in the seat as candidates then a free election is not possible,” Gurbux said. — Principal Correspondent