Baljit accuses Gill of not fulfilling his commitment

Former hockey goalkeeper Baljit Singh today accused Sports Minister MS Gill of not fulfilling his commitment of helping him regain his vision and alleged the Ministry brought him back midway through his treatment in the US.

New Delhi: Former hockey goalkeeper Baljit Singh today accused Sports Minister MS Gill of not fulfilling

his commitment of helping him regain his full vision and alleged the Ministry brought him back midway through his treatment in the US. "I lost one of my eye while practicing in the national camp. But the Sports Minister has no sentiments associated with any player. If he had any sentiments then he should have been with me till I am cured as promised," Baljit told PTI from Chandigarh. "When I suffered the injury, Mr Gill had made the commitment that he will see to it that I regain my full vision. If he had made the commitment then he should fulfill it. "But they (Sports Ministry officials) called me back from America when I was about to undergo a second surgery to repair my eye which was necessary," he added. Baljit suffered a career-threatening injury on his right eye while practising with a golf ball in a national camp in Pune last year. Soon after the incident, the Sports Minister had announced that the government would bear all the cost of Baljit`s treatment till he regains his complete vision and accordingly sent him to Alabama, US for treatment. But after one successful surgery in the US, the Chandigarh-lad had to return back before a major surgery after the Ministry refused to fund his treatment any further, saying the operation can easily be done in India. But Baljit said that for the last three months he has been banging his head from one door to the other but with no result. "I constantly appealed to the Sports Minister to complete my treatment but he bluntly refused saying there is no money in Hockey India, IOA and the Sports Ministry too could not afford any further," he said. "Where were these people in the last three months when I was sitting at home hoping for treatment to be completed. They only come in the scenario when the matter comes in front of the media. I asked only for my treatment and not any compensation. "My team raised the voice for me and when the matter came into media, Hockey India has told me that they will pay me Rs 2.5 lakh which I have incurred from my own pocket on my treatment in the US," added Baljit, who was India`s number one goalkeeper when the fatal incident happened with him. Baljit thanked Gill for all his support till date but had requested the Minister to come forward and complete his treatment to help him in his effort to wear India colours again. "I thank the Minister for whatever he has done for me but I would request not to stop my treatment midway. I would request him to help complete my treatment. I would request him to think about my future," he said. But Baljit said that for the last three months he has been banging his head from one door to the other but with no result. "I constantly appealed to the Sports Minister to complete my treatment but he bluntly refused saying there is no money in Hockey India, IOA and the Sports Ministry too could not afford any further," he said. "Where were these people in the last three months when I was sitting at home hoping for treatment to be completed. They only come in the scenario when the matter comes in front of the media. I asked only for my treatment and not any compensation. "My team raised the voice for me and when the matter came into media, Hockey India has told me that they will pay me Rs 2.5 lakh which I have incurred from my own pocket on my treatment in the US," added Baljit, who was India`s number one goalkeeper when the fatal incident happened with him. Baljit thanked Gill for all his support till date but had requested the Minister to come forward and complete his treatment to help him in his effort to wear India colours again. "I thank the Minister for whatever he has done for me but I would request not to stop my treatment midway. I would request him to help complete my treatment. I would request him to think about my future," he said. PTI