'Step taken under BJP pressure': Naveen Patnaik hits out at hockey's saffron jersey
Former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has criticized the decision to change the Indian hockey team's jersey color from traditional blue to saffron. He argues that the blue color is deeply tied to the nation's sporting heritage and the national flag.
Why it matters
The controversy reflects broader debates in India regarding the politicization of national symbols and the intersection of sports and cultural identity.
Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president and former Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday criticised the decision to change the Indian hockey team's jersey colour from its traditional blue to saffron, saying it had hurt the emotions of sports fans.The Indian men's and women's hockey teams will wear saffron jerseys instead of their traditional blue kits at next month's FIH World Cup in the Netherlands and Belgium.The Odisha government became the sponsor of the Indian hockey team about a decade ago when Patnaik was the chief minister."I am deeply anguished to know that the legendary colour of the Indian hockey team's jersey has been changed to saffron," Patnaik said in a long post on X after Hockey India unveiled the new jersey on its social media pages.While unveiling the jersey, Hockey India said the design and colour were meant to "tell a story" and carry "India's pride".The federation said saffron…
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