Sardar Patel Stadium has been renamed as Narendra Modi Stadium (Expresss Photo by Nirmal Harindran) Amid a controversy over a cricket stadium in Gujarat being renamed after Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government on Wednesday said the name change involves only the Motera stadium and the entire sports complex continues to be named after Sardar Patel.
Soon after President Ram Nath Kovind inaugurated the world’s largest cricket stadium in Ahmedabad, which will now be known as ‘Narendra Modi stadium’, social media was flooded with remarks including by some leaders of the Congress and other opposition parties who alleged that the renaming exercise amounted to an “insult” to Sardar Patel.
Asked about the allegations, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar, however, told reporters that only the Motera stadium has been renamed and the complex continues to be named after Vallabhbhai Patel.
Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, who was present alongside Javadekar at the media briefing after a cabinet meeting, also took a swipe at the Congress leaders, asking whether party chief Sonia Gandhi or Rahul Gandhi have so far praised the world’s tallest statue of Sardar Patel erected at Kevadiya in Gujarat.
Javadekar said the two Congress leaders have not even visited the statue.
Prasad continued, “I want to say this with full responsibility that a tourist place getting global praise has not been visited yet or praised by the two Congress leaders. What else is there to say?”
The name of the Sports Complex is Sardar Patel Sports Enclave. Only the name of the Cricket Stadium, within the complex has been named after Narendra Modi.
Ironically, “The Family” , which never respected Sardar Patel, even after his death, is now making hue and cry. pic.twitter.com/DMmVtgxuzR
— Prakash Javadekar (@PrakashJavdekar) February 24, 2021
Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju defended the renaming of the refurbished Sardar Patel cricket stadium, saying the sports complex, as a whole, remains in the name of the country’s first home minister. “The name of the whole Sports Complex is Sardar Patel Sports Enclave. Only the name of one Cricket Stadium, within that complex has been named as #NarendramodiStadium,” Rijiju said.
“Ironically, “The Parivaar”, which never respected Sardar Patel, even after his death, is now making hue & cry!,” he added referring to the criticism by opposition leader Rahul Gandhi.
“In 2007, Smt Sonia Gandhi came to Arunachal Pradesh and changed beautiful Arunachal University as Rajiv Gandhi University, laid foundation for Rajiv Gandhi Polytechnic, after having Indira Gandhi Park, Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, Nehru Museum, Jawahar Nehru College, list is endless…,” he tweeted.
In 2007, Smt Sonia Gandhi came to Arunachal Pradesh and changed beautiful Arunachal University as Rajiv Gandhi University, laid foundation for Rajiv Gandhi Polytechnic, after having Indira Gandhi Park, Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, Nehru Museum, Jawahar Nehru College, list is endless… https://t.co/Cdl7LAyc8w
— Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) February 24, 2021
‘Hum do humare do’: Rahul takes a dig
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday again invoked his ‘Hum do humare do’ jibe, claiming that truth was out with the stadium having the prime minister’s name, two ends being named after corporate houses and Amit Shah’s son being involved in cricket administration.
“Beautiful how the truth reveals itself. Narendra Modi stadium — Adani end — Reliance end. With Jay Shah presiding,” Gandhi tweeted, with the hashtag ‘HumDoHumareDo’.
Beautiful how the truth reveals itself.
Narendra Modi stadium
– Adani end
– Reliance endWith Jay Shah presiding.#HumDoHumareDo
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) February 24, 2021
Congress leader Shashi Tharoor tweeted, “Maybe they just realised the stadium was named for a Home Minister who had banned their parent organisation! Or maybe this is advance booking to ensure the next visiting Head of State is hosted here, like Trump? Or is this the beginning of a legacy-creation-thru-labelling spree (sic)?”
Maybe they just realised the stadium was named for a Home Minister who had banned their parent organisation! Or maybe this is advance booking to ensure the next visiting Head of State is hosted here, like Trump? Or is this the beginning of a legacy-creation-thru-labelling spree? https://t.co/yMppcTbSw5
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) February 24, 2021
His party colleague Rajeev Satav said, “Renaming Motera cricket stadium from Sardar Patel to Narendra Modi is an absolute disgrace. This shows how narcissistic our PM has become. This is outrageous and a clear sign of autocratic dictatorship.”
Renaming Motera cricket stadium from Sardar Patel to Narendra Modi is an absolute disgrace. This shows how narcissistic our PM has become. This is outrageous and a clear sign of autocratic dictatorship.https://t.co/sDi4tKKhZW
— Rajeev Satav (@SATAVRAJEEV) February 24, 2021
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, without directly talking about the stadium, tweeted a Hindi quote of Sardar Patel, “There is something unique in this soil, which has always been the abode of great souls despite many obstacles.”
“इस मिट्टी में कुछ अनूठा है, जो कई बाधाओं के बावजूद हमेशा महान आत्माओं का निवास रहा है।”
~ सरदार पटेल
— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) February 24, 2021