IHF not willing to surrender its identity

The Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) will not surrender its identity. It has made it clear to the Union Sports Ministry that it would need a week’s time to finalise its reply to the proposal suggested by the Government after a series of meetings involving Hockey India and the IHF.

The Union Sports Minister, Ajay Maken, had taken the initiative of bringing the two warring factions together and asked IHF and HI to reply to the compromise formula by Tuesday. Even as HI submitted its reply to the Ministry’s suggestion, the IHF sought more time to discuss the issue with its key members.

The IHF President, R.K. Shetty, wrote in his reply, “I must commend you and the Ministry in attempting to bring together the two hockey bodies for the good of Indian hockey. I am sure you will appreciate the IHF is a duly elected body with an Executive Council and a General Body.

“We will only be able to make a detailed response to your proposal after we analyse the impact of each point and study the pros and cons of the same. We anticipate that a diligent and responsible process for the above will take one week and we request you to grant us time till June 21 to revert to you.”

Maken responded by saying, “It is a positive step in the right direction. We are hopeful that both the parties will agree to the proposal (of the Ministry).”

‘Welcome’

According to the IHF Secretary, Ashok Mathur, “the compromise is welcome but it is loaded in HI’s favour. I maintain it is not about the posts but IHF’s identity. How can the fate of IHF be decided in such a hurry.

“We were given a mere three days to decide. The merger with HI can’t be finalised in a jiffy. In any case, why should IHF play second fiddle to HI. The IHF is a 85-year-old body with rich heritage. Let the Government think it over if it has been fair when working out the compromise formula.”

The Sports Ministry had suggested a new body with 16 members from HI, one less than the Executive Board of HI.

“I don’t know why the Government wants the IHF to surrender to HI. When the law of the land is clear that IHF is the body then how come the Government allows the international federation (FIH) to dictate by recognising HI. Even the IOC (International Olympic Committee) Charter is clear that law of the land prevails. Everyone should respect the law in that case,” said Mathur.

When asked why the new body should be named HI and not IHF, the Sports Minister said: “The FIH recognises HI and not IHF. We have to respect that. If we don’t, our players will not be able to attend international tournaments. We are looking for a solution and not get into further problems. HI will be the name.”

Batra guarded

The HI Secretary, Narinder Batra, was guarded. “We have given our reply to the ministry. We look at it as a positive development and have to find a positive way to settle the issue,” he said.

“There is the issue of State units to be settled. Actually, all this can be done in quick time. Why can’t we restore the system that was in place when IHF was arbitrarily dissolved by the IOA (Indian Olympic Association). The new formula suggested by the Government favours HI,” said Mathur.