The Biju Janata Dal on Monday accused the ruling BJP government of neglecting hockey after Hockey India (HI) issued a show-cause notice to the Hockey Association of Odisha (HAO), proposing its reclassification from permanent to associate member.
The BJD said the “indifferent attitude” of the BJP government towards hockey was gradually eroding Odisha’s identity in the sport.
Addressing a media conference at Sankha Bhavan, BJD leader and former sports minister Tushar Kanti Behera said: “The game of hockey, which brought pride to 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 raised concerns over the show-cause notice issued by Hockey India’s general council to the HAO regarding the renewal of its status as a permanent member. The notice cited issues related to compliance with the national federation’s bylaws and proposed reclassifying the Odisha body as an associate member.
The party said Odisha had reached the pinnacle of hockey in India through the sustained efforts of former chief minister Naveen Patnaik during his tenure.
The state hosted the Hockey World Cup twice and built international-standard stadiums to promote the sport. As a result, Odisha hockey gained a distinct identity nationally and internationally, it said.
BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty said: “Due to the neglect of the sport (over the past two and a half years), the Hockey Association of Odisha is facing the prospect of being reclassified from permanent member to associate member.”