The Sports Ministry has responded to complaints regarding officials from Hockey India (HI) by directing the federation, led by president Dilip Tirkey, to conduct a thorough investigation into the allegations raised. This directive reflects the Ministry’s commitment to addressing governance issues within national sports bodies.
Political Context
The ministry has also sought a clarification from Hockey India on the same,” sources in the ministry confirmed. “It is requested that the issues raised in Ms. Former India captain and HI executive board member Asunta had accused the federation secretary Bholanath Singh of institutional intimidation and protection of those accused of sexual harassment and sought the ministry’s intervention. She had also urged the Sports Authority of India to constitute an independent enquiry against Jharkhand coach Sudhir Golla. She also demanded a probe into allegations of intimidation and retaliation against complainants and whistleblowers, that administrators enabled, protected or shielded individuals facing complaints and whether existing safeguard mechanisms functioned effectively. this is the first time the government has formally issued a directive, indicating the seriousness of the situation While Hockey India has been battling allegations of misconduct for a while now. The previous cases were either summarily dismissed or the accused cleared of charges by its ICC. The allegations of sexual harassment, criminal intimidation and institutional protection for the accused within Hockey India (HI) have gone beyond the federation’s internal purview. The sports ministry, recognising the seriousness of the matter, has now directed the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to look into it. “The sports ministry has asked the IOA to form a neutral, fair and transparent committee to probe the allegations made by the ex India captain Asunta Lakra. Asunta had written to the ministry seeking an impartial probe against HI secretary general Bholanath Singh, fearing bias if the matter was handled by the federation through its internal process. He also informed the HI EB of the same. The group, including the likes of Manohar Topno and Sumrai Tete, have accused Bholanath of continuing illegally for a fourth term and flouting rules under the National Sports Governance Act. This comes a day after the Sports Ministry, supported by HI president Dilip Tirkey, had asked the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to conduct an independent enquiry into Asunta’s allegations of sexual harassment of girls in Jharkhand hockey and institutional intimidation by HI secretary general Bholanath Singh.
Asunta Lakra’s email may be placed before the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) constituted by HI under the provisions of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, for its consideration and appropriate action, and the outcome of the same may be shared with this Ministry,” read the communication. Meanwhile, a group of 13 national and international players from Jharkhand have also legally challenged Hockey Jharkhand elections, officially scheduled for July 19, with all posts including that of Bholanath as president being filled unanimously.
In response to the notice, Asunta has written to the ministry against what she calls “continued intimidation and retaliation” by HI. The ministry’s decision follows a similar request by Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey himself to the ministry on Wednesday.
