New Delhi, Nov 13 (IANS) Hockey India (HI) secretary general Mohammad Aslam Khan formally resigned Friday, accusing a couple of heavyweights in the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) of deliberately delaying the election to the apex body of hockey.
Aslam, whose six-month tenure will end Nov 20, said he would not like to continue beyond his term, even if an elected HI is not in place. He slammed some representatives of national sports federations.

HI had set Nov 18 as date for election, but it is unlikely to be held on the stipulated date as several state units objected to the affiliation process. The sports ministry stepped in to advise HI to sort out the affiliation mess first before holding the election.

Aslam said holding the election within six months was one of his prime objectives when he was appointed and now that the election was likely to be delayed he would not like to be part of it.

“With the recent developments and the delay in finalisation of the state units, I do not see the possibility of sticking to the deadline of Nov 18 for holding the election. I would not like to continue as secretary after Nov 20,” Aslam said in his letter to HI president A.K Mattoo.

“The other main concern is the continous interference from office-bearers of major federations in the working of HI. I am sure it will not be proper if HI officials start interfering in their federations’ working.”

Aslam, who was the convener of ad-hoc commitee of the Indian Olympic Association that superseded the Indian Hockey Federation, was made the secretary general of HI.

Aslam, however, said that he would like FIH and the sports minsitry to initiate a fresh process of affiliation “in a transparent manner.”

He also thanked the sports minister for supporting hockey and for the financial help extended to goalkeeper Baljeet Singh for the treatment of his injured eye in the US.