Keep Politics Out of Sports': Pargat Attacks Centre Over Hockey Jersey Colour Change
Former Indian Hockey Captain, Olympian, and MLA Pargat Singh strongly objected to the change in the traditional blue colour of the Indian hockey team's jersey.
City Air News
Jul 30, 2026 06:08
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Chandigarh, July 30, 2026: Former Indian Hockey Captain, Olympian, and MLA Pargat Singh strongly objected to the change in the traditional blue colour of the Indian hockey team's jersey. He said that the Indian hockey team has worn blue jerseys for decades, and the colour has become an integral part of India's sporting identity. Changing the jersey to saffron is an attempt to politicise sports. He described the decision as unfortunate and demanded that it be withdrawn immediately.
Pargat Singh said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Central Government is attempting to impose its ideological agenda in every sphere, and now even sports are not being spared. He stated that the purpose of sports is to unite the country, promote athletes, and strengthen national pride—not to serve as a vehicle for political ideology.
He said that instead of changing the colour of players' jerseys, the government should focus on strengthening sports infrastructure, providing world-class training facilities, supplying modern sporting equipment, and ensuring better financial and institutional support for athletes. These are the measures that will help India emerge as a global sporting powerhouse.
The former Education Minister said that sports have no religion, caste, or political colour. Sports represent sportsmanship, discipline, talent, and the honour of the nation. Therefore, the government should keep politics away from sports and give the highest priority to the welfare of athletes and the overall development of sports.
He further said that in Punjab, the BJP's "B-team," the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), has already painted government machinery and school walls in the party's colours. According to him, the government first painted schools, then buses, and even government offices in the party's blue and yellow colours. He alleged that AAP is following the BJP's approach by engaging in politics over colours. He said both parties should refrain from promoting party colours and the politics of saffronisation.
