Changing the iconic blue jersey hurts national pride and erases priceless sporting heritage, says BJD President.

BHUBANESWAR — Biju Janata Dal (BJD) President and Leader of Opposition, Shri Naveen Patnaik, today expressed deep anguish and strongly condemned the decision to change the iconic blue jersey of the Indian National Hockey Team to saffron, alleging that the step was taken under pressure from the BJP Government in Odisha.

Calling the move a crass attempt to politicize sports and erase India’s sporting legacy, Shri Patnaik highlighted that the iconic shade of blue is not merely a color, but a symbol of national identity derived from the Ashoka Chakra in the National Flag.

"For decades, this color 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," said Shri Patnaik. "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."

Shri Patnaik reminded that Odisha created history when it stepped up as the first and only state to sponsor the national hockey teams during a period when they struggled for support—a historic partnership that eventually led to the Indian men’s team winning an Olympic medal after a 41-year hiatus.

Lashing out at the ruling party in Odisha, Shri Patnaik remarked that a change in state governance should never translate into tampering with national team traditions.

"Just because the government changed in Odisha, it should not change our national team colors. This is petty politics of the worst kind," Shri Patnaik added. "For the last two years, everybody in Odisha has seen the obsession of this government with changing colors of buildings, buses, and even bridges. But now, the same government has changed the colors of our national team. National symbols are meant to unite us, not divide."

The BJD chief demanded that the priceless sporting heritage of Indian hockey be respected and protected, stating that this politicization has deeply hurt the sentiments of millions of sports lovers across the nation and compromised the pride with which Odisha has championed national hockey on the global stage.

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