NEW DELHI: The issue of an Indian Hockey Federation official caught on camera while allegedly accepting bribe echoed in Parliament with members demanding stern steps, including a legislation, to bring sports bodies under the government's watchful eye to weed out corruption.

Several members in the Lok Sabha wanted a legislation, if need be, to ensure that government could oversee the functioning of the bodies so that the players get a fair deal. In the Rajya Sabha, Samajwadi Party member Shahid Siddiqui demanded the resignation of the controversial IHF chief K P S Gill as also disbanding of the Federation in the wake of the incident involving its Secretary General Jothikumaran.

Raising the issue in the Lok Sabha, V K Malhotra (BJP) said that the matter should not end with Jothikumaran's resignation and that criminal proceedings should also be initiated as it has tarnished the country's reputation.

He said Indian Olympic Association and Government should deliberate on the matter to find out ways and means to avert such a situation. Apparently referring to India's failure to qualify for the Beijing Olympics, Mohan Singh (SP) regretted that hockey, despite being the national game, has become "a joke".

"When we asked how we failed, Government told us that the Federation is autonomous and independent. Has the autonomy been given to do wrong things," he asked. Singh and Devendra Prasad Yadav (RJD) demanded steps including a legislation to oversee functioning of sports bodies. Adityanath (BJP) sought stern punishment for IHF Secretary General saying the offense committed by him amounted to treason.

He said that eminent hockey player Dhanraj Pillay had also spoken of corruption in the IHF some time back. Mohan Singh (SP) recalled that Parliament had expelled members for taking a paltry sum of Rs 5,000 while the IHF official was allegedly caught taking lakhs of rupees in bribe.

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