Sachin Tendulkar Not Allowed to Deliver His Maiden Speech in Rajya Sabha

Politics and politicians in India have never spared any individual if the tide is not in their direction, be it a normal citizen of the country or a recipient of the Bharat Ratna Award. Sachin Tendulkar is one of India’s most respected citizens and when Sachin went to the Rajya Sabha for his maiden speech he was not allowed by the Congress leaders as they created a ruckus in the house.

Three years after being nominated as the member of the upper house Sachin went to the house to deliver a speech in the future of Sports in India and the right to play. He was expected to address some long pending issues including coverage of Central Health Guarantee Scheme (CGHS) for international medal winners and incorporation of sports in the school curriculum.

As soon as Tendulkar stood up to deliver the speech, Congress MPs did allow the Bharat Ratna to keep his points in the house, and the Congress members started demanding Prime Minister Narendra Modi to apologize for insinuating that his predecessor Manmohan Singh is colluding with Pakistan.

Tendulkar remained standing for 10 minutes, as Opposition members raised slogans, ignoring Chairman Venkaiah Naidu’s calls to maintain decorum in the house.

Naidu reminded the Congress members that the nation was watching the ruckus they were causing in the Rajya Sabha and asked them to let Tendulkar speak.

“We’re discussing about sports and you don’t have the sporting spirit,” Naidu kept repeating, before ordering the live telecast of House proceedings to be cut off.

SP MP Jaya Bachchan told ANI:

“He (Sachin Tendulkar) has earned name for India at the world stage, it is a matter of shame that he was not allowed to speak even when everyone knew it was on today’s agenda. Are only politicians allowed to speak?”