New Delhi, July 30, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday reacted to the controversy over India’s new orange hockey jersey, saying that changes in symbols or uniforms cannot alter the views and sentiments of the country’s youth.
Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, Priyanka Gandhi was responding to former India hockey captain Viren Rasquinha’s criticism of Hockey India’s decision to introduce a predominantly orange kit for the national teams ahead of the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup.
“Whether they change the uniform or try to rewrite history through the education policy, no matter what they do, the youth of this country have made their views clear. You saw what the young people gathered at Jantar Mantar were saying. That is the voice of the nation,” she said.
The Congress leader also spoke about the values associated with India’s freedom movement, asserting that the principles of non-violence, truth and brotherhood remained central to the country’s identity.
“India’s freedom struggle was built on non-violence and truth, and the RSS had no role in it. The whole country knows this reality,” she said, adding that no political or ideological effort could erase the nation’s core values.
The remarks came after Rasquinha questioned the rationale behind replacing the traditional blue jersey with an orange one for the men’s and women’s teams participating in the upcoming World Cup.
Rasquinha, who captained India and represented the country at the 2004 Athens Olympics and the 2006 Hockey World Cup, said the blue jersey had been closely linked with the identity of Indian hockey.
“The legacy and identity of the Indian team has always been BLUE. I wore the Blue jersey with pride for many years,” he said in a post on X, while asking, “What is the logic of orange?”
Hockey India, however, defended the new design, saying the saffron colour symbolises courage, sacrifice and victory. The federation said the jersey draws inspiration from the national flag and includes elements representing India’s cultural heritage, including mandala-inspired patterns, Ashoka Chakra motifs and Tricolour detailing.
The new kit has been unveiled for the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup, scheduled to be held in the Netherlands and Belgium.
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