Indian Sports Ministry wants Hockey India and Indian Hockey Federation to resolve issues by July 25
It seems that the Indian Ministry of Sports is losing its forbearance over the ongoing confrontation between Hockey India (HI) and Indian Hockey Federation (IHF), as it has directed the two warring bodies to resolve their disagreements and merge into one
unit by July 25.
At the same time the ministry also warned that they would settle the matter by themselves and inform the apex court in this regard if the both the associations failed to do so until July 25.
It was expected that the two bodies would have sorted out the matters with mutual consultations in their lastly held two-day session, but they failed to finalise the issues which further agitated the officials of the sports ministry.
Indian Sports Minister, Ajay Maken, while speaking at a news conference said that he would not wait after the aforementioned ultimatum and take the decision by his own. The ministry summoned a joint meeting of the representatives of IHF and Hockey India
on July 25, which would be a final chance for the two bodies to settle down the quarrels.
The Minister informed the two parties in clear words that it would be the final opportunity for them to amalgamate themselves, if not then they would announce the final judgement and submit the verdict with the Supreme Court of India.
Commenting on the last meeting held under his chair, the Minister informed that the overstated egos of the two warring federations were the main reason behind the failures of talks. It is vital to mention here that the talks for the amalgamation ended without
any result. The Minister remarked that they had given the two bodies an opportunity after IHF President, R.K. Shetty, approached the ministry to negotiate a few matters.
The minister stated, “So we will give it a last try since Shetty has himself written to us. But this will be the last time. We really want both HI and IHF to come together. We have given them enough opportunities; perhaps never in the past has the sports
Ministry played such a proactive role.”
In a bid to explain the situation, the minister was of the opinion that there were no major differences among the two hockey governing bodies, as all the disputes and differences have been settled down in the previous meetings.
Maken asserted, “We don’t have differences in many aspects. We will continue with the talks. Sometimes it happens that egos clash but there is nothing much beyond that.” He further stated that they had proposed to appoint KPS Gill as a life-time Patron,
while R.K. Shetty as Senior Vice President of the merging unit.
The minister, however, expressed anticipations saying that all the disputing matters would be resolved and amalgamation will take place in the upcoming meeting.
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