IHF elections demanded

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Twenty-eight units affiliated to the suspended Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) on Wednesday came together to demand early elections.

After a meeting, organised by Bengal Hockey Association (BHA) President J.B. Roy, the members pledged to work together to improve the state of the game.

“All we demand is early elections to the IHF. We want the IHF to be restored its status. How long can an ad-hoc committee run the game,” asked Mr. Roy.

Following the de-recognition of the K. P. S. Gill-led IHF last April, an ad hoc committee was constituted by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA).

Clarifying that the agenda of the meeting was not to create a platform for him, Mr. Roy said: “We want a fair and transparent election.

The IOA had promised an early election but no progress has been made on this front. We are all focussed on how to bring hockey back to the federation from the ad oc committee.”

Speaking on his role, Mr. Roy said, “I have only taken this initiative to ensure we have a good future in hockey. There is no remedy if we keep talking of the past.

“We are not demanding loyalty from any member. All we want is election. We do not want any confrontation with the IOA but demand democratically elected officials to manage the Indian hockey affairs.”

When it was brought to the notice of Mr. Roy that question marks were raised regarding the representative of Goa and Jammu and Kashmir, he stressed, “All representatives here are genuine.”

When told that J and K Association president N. K. Batra had claimed that his association had not authorised anyone to attend the meeting, Mr. Roy informed, “I don’t understand why he is making such claims today. He was with us until yesterday and has in fact facilitated our meeting and helped us find the venue.”

The 28-member delegation is scheduled to meet Sports Minister M. S. Gill and some IOA officials on Thursday to press their demands.