Gill slams Ministry; setback for merger

It was perhaps too good to last. Even as the sports ministry is working overtime to bring about a reconciliation between Hockey India.

It was perhaps too good to last. Even as the sports ministry is working overtime to bring about a reconciliation between Hockey India (HI) and Indian Hockey Federation (IHF),former IHF president and current chief adviser KPS Gill on Friday not only lashed out at HI for concealing facts and misleading people,he also all but rejected any merger between the two bodies in the current proposed form.

The merger proposal is acceptable if it is reasonable and without people who are tainted with corruption and conspiracy, said Gill during a press conference that,ironically,had former IHF secretary K Jothikumaran whose indictment for taking bribe had led to IHFs suspension in 2008 among those present.

Our reply says that we want the IHF to be reconstituted. HI constituent members who left should come back and merge into IHF, Gill said. Also present were IHF secretary Ashok Mathur,former Indian Womens Hockey Federation secretary Amrit Bose and and Joachim Carvalho.

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Indicating a hardening of stance,Gill also said the IHF will not entertain any changes made by HI in the running of the game since its suspension in 2008. HI was formed by several people for their vested interests. How can we merge with people of this stature? Let there be a proper organisation first, he remarked in reference to some HI members who for long had been associated with other sports.

People who put their heads together to keep IHF out of hockey cannot be accepted as a part of IHF. Our stand is that those who have real interest in hockey should come together, Gill said.

Government role questioned

Gill also slammed the sports ministry for its role in the entire process. The government has gone out of its way in the last 4-5 years to harass the IHF and sustain a publicity campaign against us, he said. Asked about the ministrys warning of stern action in case no decision was taken to resolve the issue,GIll remarked,You cant threaten a person with death penalty when you have already passed an order for his execution.

He also accused the ministry of not taking any notice of alleged misappropriation of funds from last years World Cup.

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The accounts of the Delhi World Cup remain undisclosed. According to the MoU of the World Cup,it was decided that a hockey development fund will be created from the profits earned and spent in the country. But till now no such fund has been created. All these facts have been brought to the notice of the government time and again but no action has been taken, he said.

Reminded the FIH recognises HI as the official body,he claimed,The situation with FIH has now changed and it will change more in the future.

Hockey India and the IHF had recently acknowledged government efforts and agreed in principle to merge but after Gills Friday tirade,the process suddenly doesnt seem as smooth as it had appeared.