Hockey Federation Suspended

Indian hockey body is suspended
Fans burn a photo of the Indian hockey team
Fans were furious after India failed to qualify for the Olympics

India's Olympic Association (IOA) has taken over running the country's hockey federation after alleged bribe-taking by one of its top officials.

The move to suspend the Indian Hockey Federation with immediate effect was announced by IOA chief Suresh Kalmadi.

It comes after secret film by television reporters showed hockey federation secretary general Kandaswamy Jothikumaran accepting money.

Mr Jothikumaran denies allegations he took a bribe and has resigned.


It is a painful, but necessary step to ensure Indian hockey gets back on track
IOA President Suresh Kalmadi

Indian hockey - the country's official sport - is still trying to recover after failing for the first time to qualify for the Olympic Games later this year in Beijing.

It is due to host the 2010 hockey World Cup but the International Field Hockey Federation has warned that it could lose the tournament unless it improves its preparations for the event.

'Painful'

Mr Kalmadi told a news conference that the decision to suspend the hockey federation for an indefinite period had been "unanimous".

A five-member panel to be appointed by the IOA will run men's hockey in India in tandem with the world hockey governing body.

"It is a very painful decision because the IOA is committed to the autonomy of all federations," Mr Kalmadi said.

He said he had "great respect" for Indian hockey chief KPS Gill, the former "super cop" who led efforts to crush a separatist revolt in Punjab in the years following the assassination of Indira Gandhi in 1984.

Mr Gill was present throughout Monday's emergency meeting.

"Jothikumaran did not come unfortunately - we wanted to hear him out. It was an opportunity for him to present his case," Mr Kalmadi said.

Mr Jothikumaran is accused by Aaj Tak televison station of taking money, apparently for selecting a particular player.

He says he was under the impression the money he took was "initial expense" for organising a major sporting event in India.

An investigation into the affair has been ordered by hockey officials.

KPS Gill sacked........Great !

It was long overdue.
The strike was slow but lethal.
Now let the Hockey greats like Ashok Kumar, Ajit Pal Singh, Dhanraj Pillay, Pargat Singh decide the fate of the game.

Congratulations ISRO

By launching PSLV along with record 10 satellites ISRO has done all Indians proud.

Congratulations !

USA or Iran

Who will be our long term friend - USA or Iran ?

This is an open question for the whole country.

Can it be a secular democracy or a muslim fundamentalist country which wants to be nuclear power ?

Indian external minister, Pranab Mukherji says that Iran should not be stopped from going nuclear. Then so should be the logic for Afganistan & Bangladesh.

Is Indian Minister an idiot or out of his mind.....?

What is he trying to say......that all irresponsible nations should become nuclear.
Then God save India from such short sighted politicians......

Cricket : Bhajji vs Shrisanth

The person who strikes first admits that he has lost the argument.

Harbhajan Singh enjoyed the support of the Indians and the media while on Australian tour.

Now he proved he needs some lessons in common sense & some psychiatric treatment.

Physical violence is the last weapon of impotents.

Seems that Bhajji is trying to show himself devoid of logic and reasoning. Shameful act,
must apologize.

Dr. Rajesh Bhatia

MS Gill vs KPS Gill

It will be interesting battle between two stalwarts - one is veteran chief election commissioner, now sports minister & other is veteran police chief of Punjab now President of Indian hockey federation. Only time will tell who prevails. Your views are solicited.

Indian Cricket - Pros & Pimps

Indian Cricket in its new Avtar IPL has been degraded to the level of a game of prostitutes and pimps. It is a disgusting & naked display of money- when the cricketers are publically being auctioned and being bought by monkeys & donkeys of dalal street with their black ill gotten money & the younger generation in the whole country is being befooled in this craziness at the expense of other games. Everybody would like to play for money & not for the country.

For the sake of Sarabjeet

Now the Indian Government has to plead with folded hands for the life of one Indian prisoner Sarabjeet, there was a time when India released their one lakh prisoners without any pre conditions........what a pity for the followers of non-violence ! When will we be able to pay back them in their own coin ?

Hillary or Obama

Whom should Indian Immigrants support in upcoming US Presidential Elections ?

First Choice is Democrats : -- Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama ?

Because Democrats stand for Diversity i.e. they have policies of inclusion not exclusion.

Democrats have great Universal Healthcare policy.......a truly humanitarian approach.

Moreover they have history of more friendly ties towards India.

Also depends who supports the more favorable immigration policies for Indian Professionals.....?

Part Of Olympic History

Indian Olympic Association President, Suresh Kalmadi says that those who boycotted Torch Relay, they missed a chance to be a part of the history.
This gentleman does not know that crowds or followers do not make history.
Even after 10 years , I will remember only the brave who had the guts to oppose the Chinese atrocities in Tibet like Kiran Bedi, Baichang Bhutia, Sachin Tendulkar, Jaspal Rana, Soha Ali Khan etc. So Suresh Kalmadi needs to clear his concepts that who makes history.

Protest against Torch of Torture

All Indians should protest against Torch of Torture instead of running with it, if they have even a small trace of self respect. China is a country of cheat communists. Only recently China was claiming even Arunachal Pradesh, so we should send a strong message that we will not take this non sense lying down like the impotent policies of Jawahar Lal Nehru.

Well Done Bhutia, Kiran Bedi

Indian Football Captain Baichang Bhutia & Former Supercop Kiran Bedi have shown the great guts & immense moral courage to refuse to run with the olympic torch, but many other athletes could not muster this courage. May God give moral strength to those athletes who are still thinking of running for the glory of the torch of torture.

Caste based reservation killing talent

Arjun Singh is the real blackest blot on the face of Indian Politics.

His policy of reservation is killing talent and giving opportunities just on the bases of caste to the

undeserving people.

Shame on Arjun Singh and on all shameless Indian Politicians who support this kind of reservation

for creating vote banks. Supreme Court could have played more constructive role.

Young Indians need to come forward for another revolution and dump the traitors like Arjun Singh.

Dr. Rajesh Bhatia,
California

Save Indian Hockey, Kick out the Gill

In order the save the Indian Hockey from the clutches of the game killer, IHF chief KPS Gill; it has become essential to kick this tyrant out of Indian Hockey Federation. This brutal assassin of hockey has insulted the senior players like Dhanraj Pillay & Pargat Singh again and again.
More over national respect is much more than his over inflated ego. Throw him out if he does not responds to the sane advice.

Save Tibet from Cruel Communists -- Boycott Beijing Olympics

In my opinion Humanity is much more important than just olympic games. So we should be morally courageous enough to stand up against Chinese atrocities in Tibet and save these peace loving followers of Dalai Lama from Cruel Communist rule of China.
The best way is to spread the message of Boycott of Chinese Beijing Olympics & pressurize your governments to do so.
That's how you can show your disapproval of communist aggression against a hapless neighbor.
Also start a movement to boycott Chinese products worldwide...

Dr. Rajesh Bhatia,
California,
USA