Congress terms Centre's decision to rename Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award "myopic'

The Indian National Congress on Friday called the Modi Government's decision of renaming 'Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award' after Major Dhyan Chand as "unfortunate" and "myopic", alleging it as an attempt to "insult" the former Prime Minister.

New Delhi: The Indian National Congress on Friday called the Modi Government's decision of renaming 'Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award' after Major Dhyan Chand as "unfortunate" and "myopic", alleging it as an attempt to "insult" the former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

While addressing the media, Congress National Spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said, "Indian National Congress welcomes that the Khel Ratna Award has been named after one of the most celebrated sportspersons, known as 'Hockey ka Jadugar'. We sincerely hope that Modi Ji should not have used his myopic political motives to drag the name of a celebrated player like Major Dhyan Chand."

He further added, "We sincerely hope now that a new beginning has been made, Modi Ji will announce the change in the name of Narendra Modi Stadium and Arun Jaitley Stadium and name it after legendary sportspersons like Sardar Milkha Singh, Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar, Kapil Dev, Leander Paes, PT Usha, Mary Kom, Abhinav Bindra. We sincerely hope that instead of being myopic and parochial, Modi Ji will truly celebrate the success of sportspersons."

Mentioning that there is already a 'Dhyan Chand Award for Lifetime Achievement in Sports and Games' since 2002, Surjewala alleged, "Modi Ji has reduced the sports budget to Rs 30 crores in an Olympic year and now, we are trying to be myopic, and also deflect attention from the core and fundamental issues of farmers' problem, the runaway inflation, and the Pegasus spyware scandal."

Speaking over the matter, Congress Rajya Sabha MP Digvijay Singh said, "There is nothing to be surprised of. Sardar Patel Stadium got renamed after Narendra Modi. We were hoping the same for this award." Congress MP K Suresh said, "It is very unfortunate. It is an insult to Rajiv Gandhi. If he has been insulted then this country is also being insulted."

Congress MP Manickam Tagore said, "We are happy that this Government is ready to give awards on some big players names. But it is very unfortunate to demean the former Prime Minister of India. Everyone knows the hate of RSS for Gandhi, Nehru, Sardar Patel, and others, whose thinking has pushed this government to change the name. Modi should stop indulging in cheap politics."

Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made an announcement on Twitter, saying, "Amidst the moments that have made the country proud, the request of many countrymen has also come to the fore that the name of Khel Ratna Award should be dedicated to Major Dhyan Chand Ji. Considering the sentiments of people, it is now being renamed as Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award."