Bhubaneswar: Opposition BJD Monday slammed the ruling BJP government for allegedly undermining hockey after Hockey India issued a show-cause notice to the Hockey Association of Odisha, proposing its reclassification from permanent to associate member.
Addressing a press conference in Bhubaneswar, former sports minister Tushar Kanti Behera alleged the BJP government was responsible for mismanagement in the Hockey Association of Odisha.
“The game of hockey, which brought pride for Odisha, is now being undermined under the BJP government. The state will lose its permanent membership in Hockey India. This is not Odia Asmita (pride),” the BJD leader told reporters in Bhubaneswar.
Asserting that hockey was an emotive game for the people of Odisha, Behera claimed that former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s consistent efforts had taken the game to newer heights in Odisha and across India.
He pointed out that under Patnaik, the state government became the sponsor of Indian Hockey. “However, the current ‘double engine’ government’s apathy towards the game in the past two years led to a decline in its quality in Odisha,” Behera alleged.
The Odisha government was yet to respond to the allegation of the BJD.
Hockey India has issued the show-cause notice over the Hockey Association of Odisha’s (HOA’s) alleged non-compliance with the national federation’s bye-laws.
The decision was taken at Hockey India’s Executive Committee meeting October 6 following an adverse report by the Electoral Officer, which had stalled the HAO’s scheduled elections October 3.
Hockey India has raised eight grounds of concern, including what it described as serious deficiencies in the functioning of HAO’s 30 district units.
According to the federation, key positions such as president and secretary in all 30 district associations are held ex officio by administrative officials, including District Magistrates and Sub-Collectors, instead of being filled through elections.
Hockey India also said none of the district units had submitted election notices, minutes or results to establish that their governing bodies had been constituted through a legitimate electoral process.
The absence of the required documentation has also prevented the finalisation of the electoral roll for the HAO elections, it said.
HAO has been given two weeks to submit comprehensive documentation, including proof of elections and the requisite statutory authorisations. Failure to comply could lead to formal proceedings for reclassification through Hockey India’s Affiliation Committee and subsequently its General Body.
