Sachin Trapped In A Political Game?

Bangalore: Will the master of the game of cricket enter the great temple of Indian democracy? The nomination of renowned cricketer Sachin Tendulkar has ignited a political brawl with the opposition parties questioning the timing of the move by the government. The news of the nomination broke just hours after Sachin and his wife called on ruling Congress party president Sonia Gandhi at her residence in New Delhi.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Shiv Sena said that the timing of the nomination suggests that it is intended at distracting attention from scams.

However, the allegation was dismissed by Congress and Sanjay Nirupam, party MP said "Sachin's nomination has nothing to do with politics," as reported by IBN Live.

President Pratibha Patil approved the government's nomination of Tendulkar, offering him one of the 12 seats in the Rajya Sabha that are reserved for presidential appointees. He is the first active sportsman to receive the honor, with the seats usually gifted to people who have distinguished themselves in the arts, sciences or social services.

Although the move by the Congress has been welcomed across the political spectrum, questions are also being raised about the timing of the announcement. It comes at a time when the Congress and its president Sonia Gandhi are being knocked on the floor by the Opposition of the House over the Bofors controversy.