New Delhi, 01 August—The ruling party’s fad for changing names and colours came for harsh criticism from the principal opposition party as the the Congress today questioned the change of the Indian hockey team’s jersey colour, saying sports and players should not be made a medium for narrow-minded political experiments, and demanded the government reconsider its decision.
In a post on X, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said this is a matter deeply connected to the sentiments of millions of Indians and our sporting traditions.
The Indian hockey teams, traditionally attired in blue, will be donning saffron kits during the World Cup in the Netherlands and Belgium starting August 15. The change in the uniform’s colour was announced on July 27.
“The decision to change the colour of the Indian hockey team’s jersey is not merely a sports-related choice, but a matter deeply connected to the sentiments of millions of Indians and our sporting traditions.
“Indian players have long been recognized around the world by names like ‘Men in Blue’, ‘The Blues’, and ‘The Blue Tigers’. This identity is not just about the colour of the jersey, but a legacy of Indian sports. Today, it is difficult to understand why the need was felt to alter this historic identity. The question is not about any particular colour, but about the process of decision-making, transparency, and respect for public sentiments,” Kharge said in a post in Hindi on X.
He said this government has changed the colour – sometimes on road pavements, sometimes in the attire of Parliament employees, sometimes on the Doordarshan logo, and now in players’ jerseys – without broad public consensus.
“National symbols, sports, and players should not be made a medium for narrow-minded political experiments. The government and relevant institutions should immediately reconsider this decision and clarify how such an important decision was taken without the knowledge and consent of Hockey India’s Executive Board,” Kharge also said.
He said saffron, white, and green are all three colours in our tricolour, and they also hold an honourable place in the flag of the Indian National Congress.
“It is unfortunate that those whose ideological tradition made no contribution to the freedom movement are now seen in a haste to leave their ideological imprint on every national symbol and every public institution. History knows that the RSS had staunchly opposed the tricolor, and Sardar Patel had even warned them,” the Congress chief said.
Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey shot off two separate emails to senior office-bearers and Executive Board members, seeking an explanation over the decision to change the jersey colour.
In the emails, Tirkey, a former India captain, said the decision had been implemented without being placed before the Executive Board or brought to his notice, and directed officials to provide a detailed account of how it was approved.
Many team members and former members of the country’s Hockey team denied any knowledge of the decision to change the colour,
Unveiling the new jersey on its social media pages, Hockey India defended the decision saying that the design and colour of the jersey is meant to “tell a story” and carry “India’s pride” and was finalised after consultations with players and support staff. HI said saffron symbolises courage, sacrifice and victory.
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