Mohali, sept 02
With just seven days to go for the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) elections, high drama was witnessed at the IS Bindra cricket stadium in Mohali today when a large number of former Punjab international, national, state and district players were denied entry into the stadium.
The players and their supporters had travelled from all across the state on an invitation by PCA president Rajinder Gupta, who had called them to discuss plans “to bring Punjab’s glory back in the game by adhering to international standards and the directions of Supreme Court as per the Lodha committee recommendations”.
However, when the players reached the venue of the proposed meeting, the IS Bindra Stadium, in the morning, they found the main gate of the stadium locked. The group demanded a meeting with the office-bearers but were told that due to the model code of conduct before the elections, they would not be allowed to meet inside the PCA premises.
It became a show of strength for the former players and officials, and police was deployed to keep the situation in check. Arguments and counter-arguments were witnessed between both the parties as the feud came out of the posh offices and hit the road.Later, Gupta announced his resignation from the post of PCA president in the presence of other office-bearers. Singla too announced his resignation from the post of PCA secretary later, but till the filling of this report the PCA general house had not received the resignations.
“The model code of conduct came into force automatically when the election date was announced. No nomination has been filed as of now,” said Rajiv Sharma, Electoral officer.
Black day
The former players came to Mohali under the banner of the Pun Cricket Players Association (PCPA), whose secretary is Rakesh Handa and president is Bhupinder Singh Sr.
Bhupinder alleged that more than 100 goondas were stationed inside the stadium to intimidate the players. “A black day in Punjab cricket. International and state cricketers were not allowed inside PCA Stadium and 200 goonda elements were called by PCA officials and were stationed inside the stadium,” Bhupinder said. “And that too under the nose of the election officer. The election officer is hand in glove with officials of PCA and I am pretty sure the elections will be a farce.”
Sources say that with just seven days to go for the PCA elections, the resignations by Gupta and Singla are nothing but tactics to stay in contention for a top post in PCA.
“The decision pertaining to accepting or rejecting resignations is with the general house. Till now, no resignation has been received by the general house,” said a senior PCA office-bearer.
