Mumbai:
The Mumbai Hockey Association (MHA), which is celebrating 75th year of its existence, has moved the Bombay High Court as it wants to take part in Hockey India's electoral process by getting duly affiliated with the newly-formed body.
"The troubles being faced by Hockey India are its own making. We have moved the Bombay High Court seeking HI affiliation after our letters of application were being continually ignored by HI officials," MHA spokesperson Joaquim Carvalho told a press conference.
The former Olympian claimed HI officials had tried to coerce the MHA into withdrawing the court case by offering it affiliation at the AGM of the pan-India body whenever it is held in future.
"We had gone and met Suresh Kalmadi (Indian Olympic Association President) in Delhi and also met A K Mattoo (the ex-chief of HI who resigned recently) in Mumbai. We wrote several letters but they were not answered," Carvalho said.
"I got a call from Kalmadi the day after he met the (striking) Indian players in Pune and he promised we will be given affiliation after the elections. But I told him we were interested in taking part in the elections which he said was not possible. Then we moved the court," he said.
Gurbax and Shetty suggested that the ?Government should head the committee and induct experienced people like former star Pargat Singh.
Though Aslam did not talk about de-recognised IHF, both Gurbax and Shetty said ?HI did not get World Cup to India. If Kalmadi continues to seek advises from IHF President Gill even to resolve the players issue on payment besides seeking his assistance in deciding Delhi?s recognition, the government have him in the committee.
Shetty said the country should get out of the FIH control in national affairs of hockey. "We can sort out our own problems. Elections to HI should be held without any bias after the World Cup."
Aslam said "Going by the series of blunders witnessed in the running of HI and the disgraceful manner of functioning of persons including Suresh Kalmadi, I am of the opinion that Government of India should set in motion a committee of experienced persons including Olympians like Pargat Singh and run the World Cup, which belong to the FIH."
"This Committee should run the affairs of Hockey in India till a fair election is held after taking decisions on extension of affiliations to state bodies in a transparent and manner, he said.
Aslam said ?I also appeal to Kalmadi to advise the present set of inexperienced people to show magnanimity and resign en-mass accepting responsibility for the blunders committed in HI, and sought to know why persons like Pargat Singh and Amrit Bose had not been given recognition.
Explaining the reasons for his resignation, Aslam said: "Hockey India is not the right place for any honest person. I had to come out as I could not sustain insults for more than 19 months as HI Secretary."
Members of HI starting from Aslam Sher Khan, Randhir Singh, Ric (Charlesworth) besides many others could not do their bit and had to quit. "I too had to resign since players were not paid and sponsor Sahara paid nothing for 19 months and also did not allow us to sign with others like Addidas, Hero Honda and Steel Authority for a total sum of Rs.12 crores,? Aslam said.
?Kalmadi has been ruining Indian sport for years but he should remember that autonomy work two-ways. He never gave any autonomy to sports federations because of whom the IOA and the state bodies are in place. He gave scant regard to this and held on to his sinister moves," Aslam charged.
"The troubles being faced by Hockey India are its own making. We have moved the Bombay High Court seeking HI affiliation after our letters of application were being continually ignored by HI officials," MHA spokesperson Joaquim Carvalho told a press conference.
The former Olympian claimed HI officials had tried to coerce the MHA into withdrawing the court case by offering it affiliation at the AGM of the pan-India body whenever it is held in future.
"We had gone and met Suresh Kalmadi (Indian Olympic Association President) in Delhi and also met A K Mattoo (the ex-chief of HI who resigned recently) in Mumbai. We wrote several letters but they were not answered," Carvalho said.
"I got a call from Kalmadi the day after he met the (striking) Indian players in Pune and he promised we will be given affiliation after the elections. But I told him we were interested in taking part in the elections which he said was not possible. Then we moved the court," he said.
Gurbax and Shetty suggested that the ?Government should head the committee and induct experienced people like former star Pargat Singh.
Though Aslam did not talk about de-recognised IHF, both Gurbax and Shetty said ?HI did not get World Cup to India. If Kalmadi continues to seek advises from IHF President Gill even to resolve the players issue on payment besides seeking his assistance in deciding Delhi?s recognition, the government have him in the committee.
Shetty said the country should get out of the FIH control in national affairs of hockey. "We can sort out our own problems. Elections to HI should be held without any bias after the World Cup."
Aslam said "Going by the series of blunders witnessed in the running of HI and the disgraceful manner of functioning of persons including Suresh Kalmadi, I am of the opinion that Government of India should set in motion a committee of experienced persons including Olympians like Pargat Singh and run the World Cup, which belong to the FIH."
"This Committee should run the affairs of Hockey in India till a fair election is held after taking decisions on extension of affiliations to state bodies in a transparent and manner, he said.
Aslam said ?I also appeal to Kalmadi to advise the present set of inexperienced people to show magnanimity and resign en-mass accepting responsibility for the blunders committed in HI, and sought to know why persons like Pargat Singh and Amrit Bose had not been given recognition.
Explaining the reasons for his resignation, Aslam said: "Hockey India is not the right place for any honest person. I had to come out as I could not sustain insults for more than 19 months as HI Secretary."
Members of HI starting from Aslam Sher Khan, Randhir Singh, Ric (Charlesworth) besides many others could not do their bit and had to quit. "I too had to resign since players were not paid and sponsor Sahara paid nothing for 19 months and also did not allow us to sign with others like Addidas, Hero Honda and Steel Authority for a total sum of Rs.12 crores,? Aslam said.
?Kalmadi has been ruining Indian sport for years but he should remember that autonomy work two-ways. He never gave any autonomy to sports federations because of whom the IOA and the state bodies are in place. He gave scant regard to this and held on to his sinister moves," Aslam charged.
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