In a move that’s got India buzzing, Olympic javelin champ Neeraj Chopra was bumped up to Lieutenant Colonel in the Territorial Army—officially a “patriot’s honor,” but critics smell political manipulation amid election chaos.
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- Territorial Army stint: Neeraj Chopra’s PR over service, dodging duties for fame.
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Javelin Hero or Political Pawn?
Olympic icon Neeraj Chopra, India’s golden thrower from Haryana, is again under the spotlight—this time not for medals, but for military privilege. On October 22, 2025, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh pinned the honorary Lieutenant Colonel badge on Chopra at Delhi’s South Block, turning the event into a national spectacle of politics meets patriotism.
What was projected as a salute to “discipline and pride” is now seen as BJP’s latest PR stunt — using Chopra’s fame to deflect from defence scams and rekindle nationalist sentiment before elections.
When Valor Meets Vanity: The Army’s Image Crisis?
The flashy pipping ceremony—complete with cameras, slogans, and patriotic speeches—has ignited a fierce debate. Was this truly a recognition of Chopra’s 90.23m record and Olympic glory, or a strategic distraction from BJP’s ongoing defence corruption scandals?
Officially, the government hails his “perseverance and national pride.” Unofficially, insiders whisper that his army role since 2016 was more PR than patriotism. Even the presidential commission signed by Droupadi Murmu in April 2025 now looks politically timed.
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