Questions had been raised when Sachin Tendulkar became the first active sportsperson and cricketer to be nominated to the Rajya Sabha in 2012.
It seemed pertinent to ask then: Would he play cricket, or attend Parliament? It turns out that things have not changed even after the cricket star's retirement.
Explaining the rationale for nominating members to the upper house, this is what N. Gopalswami Ayyangar, had said in the Constituent Assembly on July 28, 1947:
The Rajya Sabha website goes on to add:
Tendulkar, however, has not added anything to the upper house. He has asked zero questions and participated in zero debates. Out of the 182 days that the Rajya Sabha has met since his nomination (till February 25, 2015), Tendulkar has managed to attend only on six days.
While the following graphic by Factly, a platform that uses Right to Information and other public data in a meaningful way, is based on the figures before the budget session of parliament, the last three days have not been any different.
As the house of elders grapples with issues of national importance, the Bharat Ratna has been occupied with the national obsession, tweeting from Australia on the World Cup:
And also about some shows for television channels:
While Tendulkar's exact earnings from TV channels or advertising endorsements remain a matter of speculation, Manoj Mandua points out, "He is getting paid Rs 6.3 lakh per day of attending Parliament. This is more than what the BCCI used to pay him as match fee for a day of playing cricket."
Like all parliamentary members of the Rajya Sabha, nominated members also get Rs 5 crore each year for their local area development fund which can be used for minor developmental work in their area. Tendulkar has not spent a single rupee from these funds.
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It seemed pertinent to ask then: Would he play cricket, or attend Parliament? It turns out that things have not changed even after the cricket star's retirement.
Explaining the rationale for nominating members to the upper house, this is what N. Gopalswami Ayyangar, had said in the Constituent Assembly on July 28, 1947:
… we also give an opportunity, perhaps, to seasoned people who may not be in the thickest of the political fray, but who might be willing to participate in the debate with an amount of learning and importance which we do not ordinarily associate with the House of the People.
The Rajya Sabha website goes on to add:
The nominated members, who possess outstanding merit and distinction, in fact, add to the importance and dignity of Rajya Sabha and make it truly a House bestowing calm consideration on measures of national importance which come up before it.
Tendulkar, however, has not added anything to the upper house. He has asked zero questions and participated in zero debates. Out of the 182 days that the Rajya Sabha has met since his nomination (till February 25, 2015), Tendulkar has managed to attend only on six days.
While the following graphic by Factly, a platform that uses Right to Information and other public data in a meaningful way, is based on the figures before the budget session of parliament, the last three days have not been any different.
Picture credit: Factly
As the house of elders grapples with issues of national importance, the Bharat Ratna has been occupied with the national obsession, tweeting from Australia on the World Cup:
Always special to be back at cricket stadiums. Atmosphere at the MCG is fantastic! #CWC15 #IndvsSA pic.twitter.com/DLK49FG1Sm
— sachin tendulkar (@sachin_rt) February 22, 2015And also about some shows for television channels:
Done shows with @Vikrantgupta73 from Melbourne on India's amazing win over SA. On @aajtak @headlinestoday pic.twitter.com/ijCGVEAYo3
— sachin tendulkar (@sachin_rt) February 23, 2015While Tendulkar's exact earnings from TV channels or advertising endorsements remain a matter of speculation, Manoj Mandua points out, "He is getting paid Rs 6.3 lakh per day of attending Parliament. This is more than what the BCCI used to pay him as match fee for a day of playing cricket."
Like all parliamentary members of the Rajya Sabha, nominated members also get Rs 5 crore each year for their local area development fund which can be used for minor developmental work in their area. Tendulkar has not spent a single rupee from these funds.