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New Delhi: Several people were bemused – even if not surprised – that the Indian government’s official event to felicitate medal winners at the Tokyo Olympics looked like a PR exercise for Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The stage for the event was carried a large banner congratulating the winners – but the biggest photo on the banner was Modi’s. Smaller images of the winners in a cluster were also featured.
Several people took to social media to point out that the banner made it seem like Modi himself had brought back all the medals, and the players involved were secondary.
These Olympic players are playing for India nd Modi ji is playing with India 😀😀#Olympics2021 pic.twitter.com/A0CrDDaunT
— Kajal Barik🇮🇳 (@KajalBarik7) August 10, 2021
If there was an award for being the best narcissist, they would proudly make huge posters with pictures in which he receives it!#Modi #Narcissist #Olympics #Medal #goldmedal #OlympicChampion pic.twitter.com/e8Fe7cIPEM
— Midhun K Madhu (@mkm_midhun) August 10, 2021
Even China – Authoritarian regime with similar population – which won 88 Medals including 38 Golds won’t do anything so cringeworthy to please the Supreme Leader pic.twitter.com/nyjNP5FgPv
— Joy (@Joydas) August 9, 2021
स्वागत पोस्टर में ओलम्पिक पदक विजेताओं को पहचानो।
शायद पड़ोसी से चश्मा उधार लेना पड़ेगा।😀 pic.twitter.com/Kf8ZmwY3mF
— Surya Pratap Singh IAS Rtd. (@suryapsingh_IAS) August 9, 2021
India won a total of seven medals at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics – one gold, two silver and four bronze.
Recently, the Modi government renamed the Khel Ratna award, previously named after former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, after hockey wizard Major Dhyan Chand. Many sportspersons welcomed this decision, saying it was better that the award be named after a sportsperson rather than a politician.
However, some also pointed out how the Union government doesn’t have quite the same attitude when it comes to names of BJP leaders – with the recently revamped and renamed Narendra Modi stadium in Ahmedabad being just one example.
Good. No sporting award or stadium should be named after politicians.
Now change Narendra Modi stadium’s name too. https://t.co/WIju0N4l5o— Man Aman Singh Chhina (@manaman_chhina) August 6, 2021