Narinder Batra continues tirade against Kapil Dev

NEW DELHI: Miffed by the fact that no hockey player was given the Arjuna Awards this year despite Hockey India (HI) recommending as many as seven names, HI secretary general Narinder Batra came down heavily on Kapil Dev - the chairman of the Arjuna selection panel - calling the legendary cricketer "an opportunist who was trying to settle an old score with Batra."
Batra, in a statement on Wednesday, claimed Kapil was trying to get even with him because Batra's did not help Kapil's company Dev Musco get contracts for installing floodlights in stadiums in Bhubaneswar and Haryana.
Batra also took offence to Kapil's 'Who is Batra?' comment and said: "Kapil Dev approached 'Who is Batra' during the period Ferozshah Kotla stadium was being rebuilt to ensure that Dev Musco gets the order for high mast lights. Then I told him that the lowest bidder amongst GE, Phillips, Bajaj and Dev Musco will get the order. He even got messages sent to me through a common friend from Manchester to help Dev Musco."
When TOI contacted him, Kapil refused to get drawn into a war of words with Batra. "Mr Batra is like my elder brother! Whenever elders says something - whether good or bad - you just listen to it quietly. There is no need for me to react to his allegations," Kapil said.