Naveen Patnaik lambasts BJP government for changing Indian Hockey jersey colour from blue to saffron

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.

“I am deeply anguished to know that the legendary colour of the Indian hockey team’s jersey has been changed to saffron. The iconic shade of blue of the Indian hockey team is not just a colour. It is an emotion associated with the nation’s sporting heritage,” said the veteran politician.

He said, “For decades, this colour united us in hope, in victory, in defeat and in the pursuit of sporting excellence. We have cried, laughed, celebrated and stood proudly with our men and women in blue. Wearing the blue jersey, our teams have won Olympic medals with the national anthem playing on the world stage.”

Stating that blue is derived from the blue chakra in our national flag, he pointed out that “it is a symbol of our national pride and identity. The colour blue belongs to every Indian.”

“When the national hockey teams were struggling for sponsors, Odisha created history by being the first and only State to support our national teams and our beloved game. Every Odia across the globe was proud of the State’s gift to national hockey. After 41 long years, our men’s team won an Olympic medal. Just because the government changed in Odisha, it should not change our national team colours,” observed former CM and now Leader of Opposition in Odisha Legislative Assembly.

Charging that this is petty politics of the worst kind, Mr. Patnaik said, “Our blue jersey is to us what the iconic stripes are to Argentina, and the yellow jersey is to Brazil. It is etched in our collective memory. Any change in this colour, is a crass attempt to erase our priceless sporting legacy.”

“National symbols are meant to unite us, not divide. I am given to understand that this step was taken under pressure from the BJP government in Odisha. Those in authority may deny it, but the fact is that for the last two years, everybody in Odisha has seen the obsession of this government with changing colours of buildings, buses and even bridges,” he added.