In a rare move, India has renamed the world’s largest cricket stadiumlocated in country’s western state of Gujrat after incumbent Prime MinisterNarendra Modi.
The Narendra Modi Stadium, which was formerly known as Sardar Patel Stadiumin Ahmedabad, was inaugurated by President of India Ram Nath Kovind onWednesday.
The move has drawn mixed reactions on social media with a user saying,“Narendra Modi has named Motera Stadium as “Narendra Modi Stadium” afterseeking inspiration from the life of Narendra Modi”.
“Heights of Narcissism. This must be the first case in the world where aliving person has named a public property after his own name.Megalomaniac!” he added.
Modi, who is serving as the prime minister for second consecutive time, hashave been headlines for its anti-minority policies in violation ofdemocratic rules.
“World’s largest stadium dedicated to the world’s largest personality!,”Priti Gandhi, a BJP spokeswoman, said in a tweet.
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On the other hand, Hardik Patel, president of the opposition Congress partyin the state said: “The people of Gujarat will not bear this insult toSardar Patel”.
Sardar Patel was India’s first interior minister and the authorities hadnamed the largest sports complex after him.
Dedicating sports stadiums to former prime ministers is common practice inIndia, but renaming such a major venue for a sitting leader is rare move.
