Sachin Tendulkar Meets NCP Chief Sharad Pawar, Sparks Off Speculations; Fans Urge Cricket Legend Not to Join Politics
The meeting between Sachin Tendulkar and Sharad Pawar last for about 30 minutes.
Mumbai, March 30: Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar on Saturday met Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar at his 'Silver Oak' residence. The meeting between Sachin Tendulkar and Sharad Pawar last for about 30 minutes. The former Indian batsman evaded media after his meeting with Pawar. No comment has been by the NCP on Tendulkar-Pawar meeting so far.
The meeting sparked speculation in the media as to what might have transpired from talks between Tendulkar and Pawar. Fans of 'the god of cricket', however, urged him not to join the NCP and politics. Tendulkar's term as Rajya Sabha MP ended in 2018. In his six years as Rajya Sabha MP, he attended just 29 of the nearly 400 Parliament sessions. He asked just 22 questions and introduced 0 bills. Sharad Pawar Accuses PM Narendra Modi of Not Attending Political Party Meet After Pulwama Attack.
It is worth mentioning that Pawar recently defended Tendulkar over his stand on the need to play Pakistan in the upcoming Cricket World Cup. The issue of whether India should play with Pakistan was raised after the February 14 Pulwama terror attack in which at least 40 CRPF personnel were killed. Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed claimed the responsibility of the attack. Sachin Tendulkar Congratulates Indian Athletes for Winning 368 Medals at Special Olympics 2019, Says ‘Special People Do Special Things’.
Tendulkar had said he would ‘hate’ to give away two points to Pakistan by not playing in the World Cup and India should rather beat them again to maintain the unbeaten record over the arch-rivals. Sunil Gavaskar had also echoed Tendulkar's views on the matter. When a section of media and society slammed Tendulkar for his view, the NCP supremo said the former India captain started his career by beating the neighbouring country.
Pawar said Tendulkar is a 'Bharat Ratna' and Sunil Gavaskar is another cricket icon who brought laurels to the country. "Both believe that India can beat Pakistan and emerge victorious in the World Cup. But Tendulkar is being criticised, saying he is favouring Pakistan. He began his illustrious career as a 15-year-old by defeating Pakistan," Pawar had said.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 30, 2019 01:02 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).