Lok Sabha seeks criminal action against IHF Secy

New Delhi, Apr 22 (UNI) Parties cutting across the political spectrum in the Lok Sabha today demanded criminal action against the Indian Hockey Federation secretary for bringing shame and insult to the nation and national sports.

The House expressed its readiness to empower the government by passing the necessary legislation to launch "criminal proceedings" against the IHF senior official whose naming was disallowed by Speaker Somnath Chatterjee.

Stating that mere resignation by the official, allegedly caught in a sting operation while taking a bribe of Rs five lakh for selecting a player in the national hockey team, was not enough, BJP deputy leader V K Malhotra, who raised the issue during zero hour, demanded criminal proceedings against him. His party colleague Yogi Adityanath went further ahead, demanding a sedition case against the IHF official for ''the anti-national act.'' Yogi Adityanath said hockey ace Dhanraj Pillay had levelled money-for-selection allegation in 2004. He said this ''black chapter'' in Indian hockey necessitated ''sedition case'' against the official.

Mr Malhotra said the government and the Indian Olympic Association should sit together to find ways and means to act against the official who has blemished the national game. He said the government could act through the Sports Authority of India which has an observor in various sports bodies in the country.

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