‘Indian sport better off without Kalmadi’

By: Ashwin Ferro

That’s what former Indian Hockey Federation Chief KPS Gill has to say about Kalmadi’s arrest; calls it “the first step” towards resurrection of Indian sport

It’s not every day that Indian investigating agencies are showered with praise but yesterday was one of those special days when erstwhile Indian Hockey Federation chief KPS Gill said that officials responsible for the arrest of Commonwealth Games Organising Committee chief Suresh Kalmadi deserved a pat on their backs.

Kalmadi, who heads the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), was yesterday arrested on charges of corruption and cheating by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) over financial irregularities during the Commonwealth Games (CWG) that were held in India in October last year. Ironically, the Kalmadi-led IOA had initiated the sacking of Gill from his position as IHF chief three years ago — a post he held for 15 years — on charges of corruption.

“I maintained back then that there was more than what met the eye in my sacking and the subsequent dissolving of the IHF. Kalmadi did not have the right intentions then and look what has happened to him today,” Gill told MiD DAY yesterday.

The former two-time Director General of Punjab Police credited with having brought the Punjab insurgency under control in the 80s and 90s said that corruption was a commonplace during Kalmadi’s reign.

“If you take a look at any of the audit reports during the various National Games that were held during Kalmadi’s reign, you will find that there are numerous serious financial irregularities. Since Kalmadi and company got away with all of it at the national level they thought they could try it at the international level too, but thankfully they have been caught and charged,” added Gill. The former Supercop in fact attributes the fall of Indian sport to Kalmadi.

“Athletics in India is in the most deplorable state and the reason for this is that it was being run by one of Kalmadi’s trusted men, Lalit Bhanot (who is also currently in prison in connection with the CWG scam). I seriously doubt whether even a single Indian athlete will qualify for the London Olympics 2012 given the state of the sport in the country,” said Gill, who foresees no way back for Kalmadi.

“He has gotten away for too long and I don’t think the investigative authorities will let him off this time. I believe the CBI has got some solid proof of wrongdoing against him and I don’t think he will be able to emerge from this,” said Gill. However, Kalmadi’s arrest will not directly ensure a resurrection in Indian sport is another belief of Gill. “The entire sports administration needs an overhaul. However, Kalmadi’s ouster is the first step in this regard,” said Gill.

The others?

KPS Gill also aligned blame to former Sports Minister MS Gill for what has led to become India’s biggest sports scam. “Kalmadi did whatever he could while MS Gill was at top and I believe he should accept moral responsibility and must give up the portfolio of statistics and programme implementation. Subsequently, Gill trained his guns at current general secretary of the IOA Randhir Singh saying that this is the right time for him to quit too. “I think Randhir has been around for donkeys of years now and this is the right time for him to step down gracefully,” he said.