Khel Ratna renamed after Dhyan Chand
Blurb: Cong says also rechristen stadiums named after Modi, Jaitley
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, August 6
The BJP government today announced that the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award would now be known as Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. This, PM Narendra Modi said, was being done “respecting the sentiments of citizens across the country”.
The decision on the country’s highest sporting honour coincides with India’s stellar performance in the sport in the ongoing Tokyo Olympics.
The PM said: “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.”
“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,” he added
BJP leaders called it a small token of gratitude to India’s hockey legend and sportspersons who have brought glory to the country, adding that “everything in the country was named after the Gandhi family”.
The Congress also welcomed the decision, but accused Modi of having “myopic political motive” and demanded that he should also rechristen stadiums named after him and late BJP leader Arun Jaitley.
