India, Oct. 12 -- The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has criticised the Odisha government after Hockey India issued a show-cause notice to the Odisha Hockey Association, asking why its status should not be downgraded from a permanent member to an associate member.

At a press conference at Sankha Bhawan here today, the BJD questioned what changed over the past two years to prompt Hockey India to take such a step. The party alleged that the notice reflected the state government's failure to protect Odisha's importance in Indian hockey.

Former Sports Minister and Kakatpur MLA Tusharkanti Behera and BJD spokesperson Dr Lenin Mohanty criticised the government's alleged neglect of hockey in the state. The party described the development as an insult ...