After the newly installed eople’s Democratic Alliance (PDA) cabinet had on Day One (March 8), decided to rename Indira Gandhi Stadium after legendary Indian football captain Dr. T. Ao, the Neiphiu Rio-led PDA government is now on two minds about the matter in view of strong objections from various quarters.
Hours later after assuming office on March 8, the PDA government decided to honour Dr. T. Ao, who had captained the Indian football team at the 1948 London Olympics, by renaming the stadium after him to coincide with his birth centenary.
Talking to Nagaland Post here Monday, Youth Resource and Sports minister, Zalie Nyiekha said that the decision to rename the stadium after Dr. T. Ao was likely to be reviewed at the next cabinet meeting.
The reason for the PDA’s quandary comes in the wake of stiff objection to the State government’s decision from the main opposition NPF during the recently concluded session and several sections of the society.
Some opposition legislators during the recently concluded budget session of Nagaland Legislative Assembly went on to accuse the PDA government of showing utter disrespect to India’s first woman prime minister Indira Gandhi.
Opposition member Vikheho Swu had asked the treasury bench to clarify as to why the cabinet decision (to rename the IG Stadium) did not find mention in the chief minister’s budget speech.
Swu also drove the point that Dr T Ao deserved to be honoured with a new stadium and not by renaming an existing one in the name of the former Prime Minister.
Former speaker and NPF member Dr. Chotisuh Sazo also took a jibe by wondering if renaming a stadium, which was already named after the late prime minister was part of the PDA government’s slogan of “change”.
Four days after the budget session concluded, Kohima Village Council (KVC) expressed strong reservations against the proposal to rename the Indira Gandhi Stadium to Dr T Ao Stadium.
While appreciating PDA government for giving priority to sports, KVC, viewed that the renaming of the I.G. Stadium would tantamount to disrespecting former Prime Ministers- Indira Gandhi in whose memory it was constructed and Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who inaugurated it in 2003.
KVC expressed shock at the sudden decision of the new government to do away with the legacy of the former Prime Ministers without consulting the stakeholders, land owners and public leaders.
KVC pointed out that the foundation stone and the inauguration stone were laid prominently at the entrance of the gallery for all to see and to destroy these historical monoliths physically was not a wise decision.
It may be recalled that the foundation stone of the stadium was laid by former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on October 6, 1987 and its construction commenced on September 19, 2002. After its construction was completed on October 9, 2003, then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee inaugurated it on October 28, 2003.