Indian Hockey Federation secretary K Jothikumaran acts like a "dictator" and is responsible for ruining Indian hockey, says deposed coach Rajinder Singh Jr. That's the reason why, he says, he resigned as coach of the national team.

Rejecting media reports that he was sacked, Rajinder said he preferred to resign as it was not possible to continue in the prevailing environment.

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"Jothikumaran is running the IHF as a dictator and even players are not being selected on the basis of their performance, but only on his wish," Rajinder said.

He added that he earned Jothikumaran's wrath after he opposed his moves to change the team during the Commonwealth Games, in which India finished a poor sixth.

"How the coach could be held responsible for the poor performance of the team when he was not having any say in team selection?" moaned Rajinder.

"During the Premier Hockey League also I resigned due to the dictatorial behaviour of Jothikumaran, but only after the persuasion by IHF president K P S Gill I had withdrawn my resignation," he added.

"After coming from Melbourne it was not tolerable for me to continue in the prevailing circumstances. Jothikumaran adopted the policy of dividing the team to rule and even used to make changes in the team at the eleventh hour without any valid reason."

Rajinder lamented that while the coach is always blamed for the poor performance of the team, persons who are more responsible for the debacle continue to stay in power.

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