Maken fails to bring IHF and HI together

In another blow to the initiative to revive hockey, Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) has categorically declined to patch up with Hockey India (HI) calling the proposal for 'mutual settlement' as non feasible. IHF considers Hockey India to have been formed by adopting 'unethical means and misusing their authority. The Sunday Indian is in possession of the replies of both

A meeting between Hockey India and the Indian Hockey Federation was called by Sports Minister, Ajay Maken on 11 June 2011 in his chamber and had asked to give their reply by Tuesday 14 June 2011 on 10 points  in the proposal  for mutual settlement. The important proposals were to raise the strength of the Executive Board of HI from 17 to 33 in order to provide for co-option of 16 members of IHF comprising 1 Senior Vice President, 6 Vice Presidents, 4 Joint Secretaries, and 5 Executive Members. The other important proposal was that the Former president of Indian Hockey Federation, KPS Gill, shall be co-opted as Life Patron in honorary capacity without voting rights.

In its reply to the proposal of the Sports Minister, Maken, RK Shetty, President Indian Hockey Federation has replied that "this purported proposal for mutual settlement made by Hockey India (HI) general secretary, Narinder Batra, was neither discussed in detail nor it was actively considered as the same was not found feasible for an amicable and a mutual settlement.”

R.K. Shetty has remarked about the formations of Hockey India and has written in the letter that “people like Suresh Kalmadi and Lalit Bhanot had formed the Hockey India by adopting unethical means and misusing their authority and they are responsible for the current affairs of Indian Hockey as such it would be entirely unfair and unethical to be associated with an organisation formed by such persons.”

Narinder Batra of Hockey India in his reply had accepted all the proposals.

Indian Hockey is passing through a bad phase as it had a disasterous perfomance at recently concluded Azalan Shah Hockey Tournament at Malaysia. Former hockey captain, Pargat Singh, has recenlty said in a press conference that in the present condition Indian team might not be able to qualify for Olympics for the second time. Pargat plans to sit on a fast on August 29, the national sports day.