Naveen Patnaik lambasts BJP government for changing Indian Hockey jersey colour from blue to saffron
Former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has criticized the current BJP government for changing the Indian hockey team's jersey color from blue to saffron. Patnaik argues that the blue jersey is a symbol of national sporting heritage and that the change is a form of petty political interference.
Why it matters
The controversy reflects the intersection of sports, national identity, and political polarization in India, where symbols are increasingly used to signal ideological shifts.
Former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, considered one of the patrons of Indian Hockey during his rule, expressed deep anguish over the reported change of colour of the Indian hockey team’s jersey from blue to saffron.
Hailed for being instrumental in making Odisha the sponsor of Indian hockey when it was struggling for support, Mr. Patnaik on Thursday (July 30, 2026) condemned the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Odisha for allegedly politicising a national game like hockey in an emotional post on X.
“It has deeply hurt the sentiments of lakhs of sports lovers across the country and the pride with which Odisha has supported the national hockey,” said former Odisha CM.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in