‘How did Hockey India executive board not know?’ Congress questions govt over saffron jersey row

Indian hockey team players in new saffron jersey

NEW DELHI: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday sought an explanation from the government and concerned authorities over how the men’s hockey team’s jersey colour was changed from blue to saffron allegedly without the knowledge and approval of the Hockey India executive board.Indian sports teams, including the hockey team, have traditionally worn blue as their primary colour. The decision to change the hockey team’s jersey colour has triggered a major political controversy.The change was announced on July 27, ahead of the World Cup in the Netherlands and Belgium, which begins on August 15.“National symbols, sports, and players should not be used as 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 wrote in a post in Hindi on X.

Kharge X post

He further described the move as not merely a sports-related decision but one “deeply connected” to the sentiments of millions of Indians and the country’s sporting traditions.“Indian players have long been recognised around the world by names such as ‘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,” the Congress chief said.The veteran politician also pointed out that the colour schemes of both the national tricolour and the Congress flag comprise saffron, white, and green.Alleging the involvement of the RSS in the jersey colour change, Kharge accused the organisation — the ideological mentor of the ruling BJP — of being in a “hurry” to leave its imprint on national symbols and public institutions.

“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 tricolour, and Sardar Patel had even warned them,” he added, referring to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the country’s first home minister and a Congress stalwart.Hockey India has defended the move, stating that the jersey’s design and colour were intended to “tell a story” and represent “India’s pride”. The federation added that the design was finalised after consultations with players and support staff.However, Hockey India president and former captain Dilip Tirkey claimed that the decision “appeared to have been taken and implemented without being placed before the executive board for discussion and without my prior knowledge.”