Cricket icon Master blaster Sachin Tendulkar, who recently took oath as Rajya Sabha member, has refused a government bungalow in New Delhi, anticipating an unnecessary burden on the taxpayer.
“I am not keen on blocking a government bungalow because this would be a waste of taxpayer's money as I reside in Mumbai. It would be better if the bungalow is allotted to someone else who needs it more than me,” he cricketer said in a statement.
“I would prefer to stay in a hotel in Delhi at my own expense when I am on official work. For me the honour of being nominated as a Rajya Sabha member matters most,” he said. The ace cricketer was reportedly allotted a bungalow close to Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi's house on Tughlaq Lane. In Mumbai, he stays in a house in suburban Bandra.
Keywords: Sachin Tendulkar, Tendulkar government bungalow
good selection by sachin.other mp's also take him to inspiration.keep it up master.
I really don't understand his decision, 1. He asked for Tax exemption for the Ferrai. But at the end Fait paid the Tax for the car. 2. He bought HOME LOAN to buy an apartment in Mumbai near the Cricket ground, so that his son can stay in that apartment for cricket practice,so that he can reduce the Tax 3. He sold the Ferrai to reduce the value of his asset, so that he can reduce the Tax Now after getting elected as a MP, he says that he do not want to waste the Tax Payers money. Sachin becoming a typical indian politician!!!
sachin backfire the trap set by congress . congress want to cash the image of sachin . but sachin don't sell his image
Keeping things in perspective- Sachin Tendulkar was a great batsman for Indian cricket and one of the all time great batsmen of the game. As someone who enjoys the game of cricket, I have thoroughly enjoyed the display of his batting genius all over the world for many years.
But now he is a spent force in cricket and he is running a well-oiled PR team to stay in the national cricket team. It has only one aim- it gets him millions of dollars of endorsements each year. They will disappear if he is not in the national team.
As a politician he is very young. It is political calculations that got him into Rajya Sabha. He doesn't deserve to be there. If he is honest he should contest an election for the lower house of the parliament and see what happens.
This statement not to take a public house is the usual stunt one expects from him at this early stage in his political career. As he progresses in politics he will take more than a house- a lot more!
Fantastic Sachin! Way to set an example for others to follow. I admire you!
sachin is rajya sabha member is a good decision and keep it up.
If he is so honest, he should not accept RS seat which he very well knows that he doesn't deserve it. Now what he has done is just a gimmick to woo public's attention, usually played by some extra currupt politician to show that they are very humple and honest. "A POLTICIAN IS IN THE MAKING"
I am more curious to know what he does as an MP more than whether he accepts a
government housing or not. Not that anyone has any clue as to what other MPs really
do, hope Sachin can be different by actually doing something to raise awareness of
the many issues plaguing the country. Good choice to keep away from Rahul who is
more interested in gimmicks than real stand on principles or be a true leader.
It's truly amazing! Apparently some of the respondents just crawled out of a hole. Sachin stated in crystal clear language that he 'll stay in a hotel at his cost. How much it costs should be totally irrelevant. This is none of ur business. Some of u r castigating him before he has served one solitary day. C'mon, give him a break. Cease and desist from ur assine comments.
Mayor Bloomberg of NYC is serving at $1 annually. He willingly gave up the nearly $200,000.00 annually he is entitled to. So this gesture by Sachin is not unique. Maybe in India it is!
I live in New York. I had the good fortune of meeting Sachin in Mumbai and Jamaica. I had lunch with him in Bandra. He is a very pleasant man, very considerate and humble. I am sure he will be a tremendous asset to the Indian Parliament and, by extension, the Indian people.
God speed, my brother (he referred to me as his dada)!
Arrogance of the type Sachin Tendulkar,MP exhibits is only to be expected from one who is considered next only to God even by those who should know better.
Bravo, Sachin. I am not fan of cricket, but I am your fan and I admire your decision. You did the most honest thing; but then you are a sportsman, not a politician.
Austerity was the mantra of Mahatma Gandhi and his associates in the bygone decades.
Many commentators are critical of Sachin's decision to stay in hotel. Sachin actually said, he will spend his own money for his stay in hotel. Whats wrong with it people? Meira Kumar should learn from this who tries to make the Government Bungalow as her dad's memorial.
I think it is a good decision... Appreciate if Sachin can do some good from our rusted political system.
..and the world is so excited at this gesture. But this same person asked for tax exemption on a Ferrari gifted by Schumacher few years back. Also, the hotel will cost us more than a building.
why hotel. i thought there is something called MPs hostel or some guest house where the casual visitors can stay and attend to their duties!!!
Sachin Tendulkar, Well done. because this would be a waste, a bungalow close to Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi's house. It is just like playing with The Most Corrupt, match fixing Indian Cricket Player!
The GoI made a fool of itself by allotting a bungalow to Sachin Tendulkar without even an application from him.One wishes the government shows the same pro-active approach towards the common man.
A good decision taken by sachin... How to save public money... Others should also take such step to save indian economic crises....
I know many will hate me for this, but my question is "Question is why Sachin?" I mean why is he in RS ?.. why not Sania Mirza ? She represented India in Olympics and she is still Indian! Sachin did not represent Indian in any international sports except Cricket, that too not as recognized as Olympics. I won when he did not perform well, and India lost when he did well, to me he was not a team player. Cricket is a professional sports, like professional boxing is treated in Olympics ..a separate sports not part of Olympics.
It is equivalent to scoring a century Sachin. Good decision. You keep politics away from honorary member in Parliament or else you lose everything include honour and charisma. Cricketing public worship you as God of cricket which probably better maintain. Anyway time will tell.
To all those who are commenting that hotel would be more expensive, Sachin has volunteered to pay for it too! Wish there were more politicians like him.
Let's give the (bats)man the benefit of doubt. Does anybody have the figures to assess which will cost the exchequer more, the bungalow or the hotel room, over a one-year period, the latter by assuming a certain no. of days of stay in Delhi (say 50% attendance). What I'd like to know is whether there is any guideline as to whether the MP has the freedom to choose between the two & if there is a ceiling in terms of daily boarding & lodging cost, in case of a hotel.
At least this is good gesture from Sachin Tendulkar. Many first time MP's are not offered bungalows like Tendulkar. The are given hostel acomodations only. Why this preference to him? After all he is not going to attend Parliament all thro' the year because of his preoccupation in cricket matches.
Sachin's decision is a mature decision. Do not politicise the same. With the kind of transport facilities available between Mumbai and Delhi, a Bungalow is not necessary. Certainly, maintaining a bungalow in Delhi is a strain on public exchequer. Appreciate his thinking pattern, which certainly is setting up a good precedent. One need not be openly charitable in professional life as the parameters are different for achieving one's goals. But when you are in public life, you have made a decision to work only for public good. It is a simple rule and most of the politicians have forgotten and Sachin has implemented. Let us appreciate his gesture...May his tribe flurish!!!!
Sachin has proved once again he is a gentleman on and off the field. His decision is on the right path, provided he doesn't charge the hotel bill to government like some well known multi million ministers. Not all politicians can do this. Take our President who went for a lavish bungalow for retirement and then backed off.
what a game player,great decision on his part,I wish others could take a hint.The govt can have so much of it's money if they invite such wonderful human beings.
On a lighter note, I do agree with one of the comments that the "Hotel might cost more"! :)
this is reply to V J Iyer, please read the news properly before you comment on it, Sachin said 'prefer to stay in hotel on my expense' not on government's expense.
To all those who says the hotel bill will be costlier,"he says of staying in hotel on his own expanse.
For those who say hotel bill is costlier - Sachin says he will bear the cost of hotel expenses.
Why should members of Parliament, ministers etc be provide with free Govt. accomodation? Only the President, Vice-President and PM should be provided Govt. accomodation as in the UK, USA etc. All others should be required to be make their own arrangements for accomodation. Same should be the case for providing security to these people. However, they should be paid a resonable salary to enable them to live decently (not extragavently).
Sachin's thoughts on staying in the hotel while in New Delhi, and refusing to accept Rajyasabha privilege is a great step. It would be great if he can donate his monthly emoluments, and foregoes the pension. He should join the anti-corruption crusade and boost the sagging morale of this agitation.
On the face of it, this looks like a great decision on the part of Sachin Tendulkar. I am afraid, it may not be really so. Our External Affairs Minister Mr SM Krishna and the then Minister of State for External Affairs Mr Shashi Tharoor will be most happy to hear that public are welcoming Sachin's decision not to take Lutyen's Bungalow, preferring instead a hotel accomodation, obviously a 5-Star one. For,they had to shift to government accomodations from their 5-Star hotels with gymnasium and other facilities, which was causing huge drain of tax payer's money. So, if Sachin is going to pay the hotel bills from his own pocket,it is without doubt really a noble gesture, worthy of emulation. Otherwise, he might as well shift to a government quarter, instead of a bungalow,owing to his concern for wasteful expenditure of tax payer's money.
Sachin, please buy a small 1 room flat in Delhi. Good enough for 20 days stay per year. Set an example by staying in your own flat so that our future Nominated MPs to follow. It can set standards for NMPs. Please speak in parliament about thrift and prudence. Please get rid of the money-bags in BCCI. We love you so far and if, you do that, we will respect you more than your cricket!
Sachin needs to be honest, not prejudiced while making comments/decisions. He has health,wealth,name and fame and this is time he gave back.Needs to show results like in cricket. Let it not be another decorative post as some celebrities used in the past. Be a role model for youth of the nation.
@PRV Raja..Sir, how do you know that Sachin is trying to fool people..?? he did nothing wrong there by not accepting Government bungalow, but you are criticizing him ??!! and you are calling RS "un-necessary and a redundant institution" which shows your lack of knowledge on our parliament and its working structure..
Sachin has scored a perfect six
There is nothing to doubt about his intentions. I was against Sachin taking up the assignment as MP, instead he should have started some cricket academy like MRF Pace Foundation, given his cricketing and financial resources. To some of the readers here, I would like to point out that having accepted the appointment, he cannot be expected to attend everyday the Rajya Sabha is in session, given his cricket and commercial interests. What he can do as an MP is that he can persuade the government to strip the tax concessions to highly cash-rich sport institutions like BCCI and provide the same only to other sports which are cash-starved.
Its great to listen that someone in the parliament is concerned about the tax paid by us. Sad to see that few people find it wrong, can't people understand that a person have to start from somewhere. If Sachin want to start his political innings like this than let it be like this. He has served our country to the great heights by his own way, so now et him only decide what to do and what not. All the best!!!!!!!!!!!!
Very well said!! Those who say that staying in hotel is more costly should know that if an MP denies to stay in government residence, then he only will bear the expenses of hotels. Also, he is one of the 12 members who can be nominated by President for Rajya Sabha just for the outstanding work in science, arts and literature. The nominees can't be expected to attend all the sessions of parliament but the expectations are that they will give their valuable time and thoughts when actually needed. That is what he meant. I feel that he knows what he is supposed to do. Critics will always be there!! Keep going Sachin!!
You are a cricketing Icon.. I hope you become a Social Icon as well in
future...
Offering to attend the Parliament for a few days in every session is ridiculous. People of his stature are nominated to participate every hour,every day when the parliamnet is in session and contribute.Prticipation is not a charity rather a responsibilty.
Paying the customs duty for the Ferrari would also have done the taxpayers a lot of good!! Being an MP is a full time job, it is not an "honour",it is a responsibility. No decent person can hope to "attend a few days in each session". If a member cannot make it to every session(sickness and emergencies aside),he/she does not deserve to be in parliament.
I am glad like such wonderful people are entering into the parliament and who have so much love for the country. Definitely, they will do good for the country. These are the kind of people who are patriotic about their country should be in the parliament. I wish you all the best Sachin. You are such a good cricketer and a man who will bring proud to our country even if you become the Prime Minister.
Let Mr. Sachin set some precedence of being simple, honest, sincere, which is why he is attracted. This is very appreciable. Instead of being in a Hotel, let him be provided an accommodation like Hostels(with required facilities) where he could stay and do attend his session. Obviously, Hotels cost more, which is one way of waste and Mr. Sachin would understands well. Hope, this would cost less to this nation & let this suggestion be welcome by Mr. Sachin and make other MPs too can join and help this nation from financial outgo. Hearty Welcome & Wish to these newcomers(MPs)and expect they do love able & wonderful a service to this human society.
If anyone thinks why Sachin wants to get his shirt dirty with the mud of Indian politics, remember this is exactly the curse of Indian politics. Many of you might have thought many times, as like me, why no good people are not joining politics. Now when this is happening there is a lot of noise, specifically because he came through Congress and not through some other party?. Good to see that he is doing this strongly irrespective of the negative comments he is getting from people. Looks like he has something strong in his mind that he wants to achieve. I am hoping that will be good for Indian politics.
All states have their own "Bhavans" in the capital. If for a few days to attend the Rajya Sabha stay in the sate bhavan with all comforts will not only be cost saving and convenient,but also a good precedent. Will other not so active members follow the example.
Its great to read know about the decision of Little master. of-course
Money will be saved, as if he is not going to stay most of the time in
Govt's accommodation then no need for security and other services on his
name. well done dear
Good step from Sachin Tendulkar. He has to continue this attitude what has brought him the glory. And for those who doubt the Hotel bill will be costlier, Pity you guys!!
Sachin has always shown great character in his profession.He is well disciplined even under provocation.All Indians support him in his stint as MP and wish him success.
Sachin has only the experience of Cricket life. This is an immature comment. One can't stay in hotel and serve for the betterment of people.
This is not the complete article.... The missing part is--"I am not keen on staying in a government house. It will be a waste of the taxpayers' money. I would prefer to stay in a hotel in Delhi on my own expenses," Tendulkar told CNN-IBN." I do not need a bungalow just to stay for few days.'
A sensible move. His colleagues in the Parliament should learn from this political novice. Welldone Sachin, keep it up.
Something to be inspired by.
good example set by Sachin for others follow him
If you only want to attend parliament few days each session, why on earth did you accept to become an MP. Resign and let someone more dedicated to takeover.
Oh, wow! Concern for taxpayer's money! So has he paid the duty on his Ferrari and all the tax due on his wealth?
I hope Sachin started what he intends to do....Hope he will succeed in making the politicians realise how the petty things will make difference and MP/MLA is for serving people not for enjoying the privileges.
That is the beauty of Mr. Sachin. That is the character of Sachin. It shows how principled he is. No doubt the country has produced a person of great character.
The government Bungalow do not measure up to his standard of living!
"I do hope to attend few days of parliament in every session"... What does that mean? Why are the MPs not willing (or even aiming) to attend all the days??
Isn't this the same guy who asked for customs duty exemption when someone gifted him a Ferrari car a few years ago (claiming he is 'serving' the country by playing cricket)? This is just a cheap stunt by someone raking in millions of rupees every month.
very well decision master!!!!!!!!!!!
It is not clear whom Sachin Tendulkar intends to fool by his offer to live in hotels instead in a government bungalow when he comes to the Capital, in the name of 'waste of tax-payers' money'. We have the stories of S.M.Krishna and Sasi Tharoor and other MPs preferring to five star hotels, avoiding government accommodation. Then, it requires only common sense to know that the amount saved, if at all any, on a single MP's housing is small compared to the total waste of tax-payers' money in this country. In fact, the whole of Rajya Sabha, an un-necessary and a redundant institution, which often serves vested interests of political parties, eats up a sizable amount from the State exchequer. Sachin should think of effective methods to avoid waste of public money. Sachin's words can at best be described as "so much, so good". Finally how can he say he is aware of his 'responsibilities as MP', at the same time, only hoping to attend few days of parliament in every session? People expect every MP to attend to the House whenever it meets.
even sachin tries to save the tax payers money... the hotel might cost to us more than a bungalow
he has become a real politician.It is nothing but every politician's first statement. let us wait and see
Well said.At a time when the ministers and MPs are reluctant to vacate the govt bungalows on some pretext,even after they are defeated in elections,the decision of Mr.Sachin could be a lesson to all of them.As had been stated,the public money is being wasted for providing 5 STAR facilities to some of the ministers or MPs despite being their contribution minimal,even if they are having their own bungalows nearby. Nothing, but simply habituated,for eating public money.
good to note that sachin will not take govt. bungalow
Well done, Sachin.
We need more MPs like Sachin. Keep it up Sachin
The hotel might cost more.
Good to note, he is setting a very good precedence. Hope everyone
in the Pariliament as well as in Govt bodies follow him and at the state assembly level maintain true austerity.
A very good decision by Sachin.
Some good news from a politician atlast
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