Hockey India gets election go-ahead, Gill slams ministry
Things keep getting murkier, and more confusing, in Indian hockey. In the latest development, Hockey India (HI) claim to have received a no-objection certificate from the Sports Ministry, giving them the go-ahead to conduct elections as scheduled on July 28, a move that came for criticism from KPS Gill.
Gill, who is the president of the reinstated Indian Hockey Federation, slammed the ministry for its decision. “They are trying to tread a very fine line, which only exposes their dishonesty,” he said. “In any case, the government can neither stop an organisation from holding elections nor ask it to conduct one. Also, we have nothing to do with this judgement. We are working in accordance with the court ruling. In a democracy, the court of law is supreme. Any decision by a court of law is above anything the government may do,” Gill told The Indian Express.
In a statement, HI said, “The government of India, Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports has given its No Objection to the holding of elections of Hockey India. The elections will be held on July 28 at New Delhi.” The sports ministry had earlier asked HI to restrain from holding elections or take any action till further advice.
The letter from the ministry, however, makes it clear the decision has been taken only to avoid any possible embarrassment for India in international meets. “The government has taken into account Hockey India’s letter date June 24, forwarding therewith FIH’s letter dated June 23, and the issue of participation of Indian team in international events…” it says. Interestingly, a sports ministry spokesman, when contacted, denied any knowledge of such an order. “I cannot say anything about it, I have no idea about any such NOC,” he said.
Tirkey named selector
Meanwhile, former India captain Dileep Tirkey has been named one of the selectors in the four-member national selection committee by the IHF. The other members of the committee includes former India international Abdul Gaffoor Khan, Olympians Baljeet Singh Dhillon, Anil Aldrin and Sayyed Ali.