New Delhi: Former captain Pargat Singh launched a scathing attack on Suresh Kalmadi, calling him a "sports mafia" who is trying to become the Hockey India chief by hook or crook even though the IOA president rubbished the allegation.
Pargat, the Hockey Punjab secretary, also blasted Hockey India for deferring its February 7 election in the wake of a Rajasthan High Court order and alleged Kalmadi was "up to something sinister".
He went to the extent of saying that the situation was better in the era of KPS Gill, who headed the erstwhile Indian Hockey Federation.
Kalmadi, on his part, rubbished the allegations, saying it was Pargat's "figment of imagination".
"I'm not connected with Hockey India, I have the Commonwealth Games to look after and so I'm not getting into all those things," Kalmadi told reporters.
"It's all his figment of imagination, I have nothing to say about that," the IOA chief said.
Earlier, Pargat made a stinging attack on Kalmadi, blaming him for postponing Hockey India election on purpose.
PTI
First Published: Sunday, January 24, 2010, 20:40