His name was not very well known outside sporting circles in Delhi and Kashmir, his home state. But by raising the banner of revolt against his one-time mentor KPS Gill, Narinder Batra, vice-president of the Indian Hockey Federation, has ensured a place in the headlines. In the past fortnight Batra has twice issued strong statements criticising the working of the IHF and calling for the resignation of Gill and his Man Friday, IHF secretary Jothikumaran. ‘‘The situation is such that the equation is simple: if you want to be humiliated, you are welcome to join the IHF’’, Batra told The Sunday Express. ‘‘Neither I, nor several of the other members of the executive committee, have any idea on how the IHF works, nor do we care anymore. But recent statements by Gill forced me to take up this issue before I go out.’’ His specific objection to Gill, as stated at his press conference last week, was that the federation chief had violated government guidelines by holding office for more than two terms or eight years. A bit late in the day, one might think, given that gill is in his 11th year as IHF chief. Batra’s excuse: he was unaware, till recently, of the guidelines. ‘‘I know that is no excuse’’, he says, ‘‘since these guidelines have been in existence since 1976. But a copy of the guidelines was given to the president and the secretary, they did not pass it on to the other office-bearers.’’ He then comes out with his ‘‘main reason’’ for the outburst: the ‘‘insult’’ to India’s Olympians. ‘‘It is not easy to become an Olympian. It takes years of hard work to reach that level. And no one has the right to insult them the way Gill did recently.’’
