M. P. CM sports black arm-band in support of women hockey team players protest against Hockey India

Bhopal, January 24 (Pervez Bari): The agitating Indian women hockey team players protesting against Hockey India, (HI), over the non-payment of their dues and shabby treatment meted out to them got a savior in Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan who also sported black arm-bands on Sunday to express solidarity with them.
Chouhan said that he is with the women hockey players in their protest. He had a black band tied to his arm as a mark of protest and said that this band is akin to a "Rakhi", which will keep motivating him for removing the difficulties of these players.
"I will not remove the black arm-band till Hockey India concedes the demands of the women players and makes payment of their dues which have accrued to them", he stated."The Hockey India and the Federal Sports Ministry should think about restoring their rights. Their protest is justified and I am with them", he added.
Chouhan said his Madhya Pradesh Government will extend all financial help to Indian women as well as men's hockey team and is ready to provide all necessary facilities to see that the national game does not suffer due to monetary constraint and the country's golden past in hockey is revived and restored.
He lamented that it is a national shame that players of both the teams are forced to protest for getting their salaries and perks. He said: "It is a shame that there are no incentives for the hockey players in our country. They would not be able to concentrate on their game if they are forced to go through this trauma."
The Chief Minister said that hockey has been pride of the nation. At a time we could not win medals in any other game, it was hockey which had brought gold medals from Olympics and international competitions.
Chouhan was addressing the women players who obliged his invitation and visited his residence along with the team officials this morning. He announced on the occasion to present Rs. 100,000/- cheque to all the 41 women players attending the national training camp here in Bhopal at Sports Authority of India Centre practicing for the ensuing Commonwealth Games and World Cup. The cheques would be presented on January 28 when the Indian women hockey team which won the last Asian Gold Cup will be felicitated.
It may be mentioned that the Chief Minister has handed over Rs. 10 million check to the Federal Sports Minister M. S. Gill in New Delhi for the clearance of Indian women hockey players' dues on Friday.
Chouhan said if the Federal Sports Ministry does not pay from the amount he has donated to it by January 28 then he would ask it to return the Rs. 10 million cheque to the Madhya Pradesh Government and it would directly try to clear the women hockey players' dues.
"I had submitted the cheque to the Sports Ministry so that the players got their dues through proper channel. Now, if the Sports Ministry delays payment and its intentions are not clear then I would seek the amount back", he remarked.
Chouhan said that Madhya Pradesh is ready to provide all necessary facilities to national men's and women's hockey teams. He said that it is a national shame that players of both the teams are forced to protest for getting their salaries and perks.
The women players were overwhelmed by the Chief Minister resolve and pledge towards them as bonhomie prevailed during the inter-action between the two.
Captain of Indian women's hockey team Surinder Kaur, former captain Mamta Kharab and senior player Dipika Murty said that their morale has been boosted by the gesture of the Madhya Pradesh Government.
Mamta Kharab said that she is very happy at the announcement made by the Chief Minister to provide funds for the hockey team.
"I want to make it clear that we are not protesting just for money against Hockey India but for a system to be placed so that our next generation doesn't have to fight for their rights," she explained. "There is still no response from the federation and that is why our black band protest is on and will continue till our demands are fulfilled," she added.
The programme was conducted by State Hockey Academy coach and former Olympian Ashok Dhyanchand, son of India's legendry hockey icon of yesteryears Major Dhyanchand.
Meanwhile, Dipika Murty, spokesperson of the Indian women hockey team, talking to this Correspondent on Saturday had said that she had talked to some officials of the Federal Sports Ministry today who informed her that the funds pouring in for them, which is said to have accumulated to Rs. 26 million, is not for settlement of their dues but for the overall development of Indian women hockey. The Sports Ministry would only give them some token amount from the funds collected and the figure has not been disclosed.
It may be mentioned here that Federal Sports Minister M. S. Gill had made an earnest appeal to Indian corporate sector to come forward in rescue of Women hockey team, which at this hour needs support and thus “lift a finger for it to carry it's burden.” while inaugurating the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India, (ASSOCHAM), organized 'Conference cum Exhibition Brand: CWG Delhi 2010' in New Delhi on Friday.
Deepika said this had dampened their spirits further. She said the U-turn by the Sports Ministry after Gill had on Friday asked her to send the detailed report of their dues. She said with this development they had dropped the idea of sending any detailed report of their dues to Sports Ministry.
Meanwhile, according to media reports Gill on Sunday questioned Hockey India's electoral college and said a clear and transparent poll process is essential for its election.
Gill's statement came a day after HI's February 7 elections were postponed indefinitely following a stay order issued by the Rajasthan High Court on the entire electoral college. (pervezbari@eth.net)