Congress Spox Reacts To Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award Name Change, Accuses Modi Govt Of 'Political Vindictiveness'

Earlier today, PM Narendra Modi took to Twitter to announce that the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award will be renamed as 'Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award'

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New Delhi: In a surprise announcement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday revealed that the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award has been renamed as 'Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award'.

This comes ahead of National Sports Day to be celebrated on August 29 to commemorate the 115th birth anniversary of Indian Hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand.

While several senior Congress leaders are yet to share their response over the announcement, some of the reactions that have come in from the party are expectedly questioning the Modi government's intention behind the decision.

Congress party's National Spokesperson took to Twitter and wrote: "Renaming the Khel Ratna Award after the great Major Dhyan Chand itself wouldn't be an issue if even the Narendra Modi stadium was renamed after a sportsman. In absence of that, this change only reeks of political vindictiveness by a petty govt!"

Honouring Major Dhyan Chand, senior Congress representative Randeep Surjewala alleged that the Modi government is using the legend's name for petty political motives. Welcoming the decision, he said that Rajiv Gandhi will remain an icon for the country.

He brought up the issue of sports budget and demanded that the names of Narendra Modi stadium and Arun Jaitely stadium be changed to honour sports icons like PT Usha, Milkha Singh, Mary Kom and more.

Congress MP K Suresh called the decision "unfortunate", adding that "Rajiv Gandhi was PM, he led the country into the 21st century. He encouraged sports, youth. This government wants to saffronise and that's why they gave another name".

Earlier today, PM Narendra Modi took to Twitter to announce that the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award has been renamed as 'Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award' in a move to respect the sentiments of citizens across the nation.

"I have been getting many requests from citizens across India to name the Khel Ratna Award after Major Dhyan Chand. I thank them for their views," PM Modi tweeted on Friday.

"Respecting their sentiment, the Khel Ratna Award will hereby be called the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award! Jai Hind," he added.

 

"Major Dhyan Chand was among India’s foremost sportspersons who brought honour and pride for India. It is fitting that our nation’s highest sporting honour will be named after him," he further wrote.

The Khel Ratna Award is the country's highest sports honour which was instituted in 1991–1992.