National News
Sachin Tendulkar scores golden duck on debut in Rajya Sabha, not allowed to speak
They didn't want to listen to Sachin speak.
NEW DELHI: Sachin Tendulkar scored a golden duck in the Rajya Sabha. His first speech in the Upper House of Parliament was washed out almost instantly in the uproar between the more political members. In a way, this could be seen as Sachin’s seventh golden duck, and the first off the cricket field.
Sachin’s stood up to speak in the Rajya Sabha for the first time after five years as an MP. He had been allotted time to speak on multiple issues relating the future of sports and sportspersons in India.
Wearing his own take on the modern political uniform – white shirt with a ‘Nehru jacket’ – Tendulkar forced to play non-striker for 10 minutes.
Congress MPs caused a furore in the House over comments made against former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in the heated campaign for the just-concluded Gujarat elections.
Sachin waited. Then waited some more. But the screaming Congress MPs were in no mood to let him begin.
“It is an issue of the sports… very important issue. That too, raised by the honourable member, who was awarded Bharat Ratna. Have respect, have respect to the institution also. Please listen to him,” said Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu, pointing out that this was Sachin’s maiden speech.
But none of the Congress MPs were in a mood to listen.
After about 10 minutes of the sloganeering, Naidu adjourned the House for the day.
It is unclear if Sachin’s false start will be overlooked and he will be allowed to actually make his debut speech on Friday.
And, for the record, Sachin has scored five golden ducks in Tests and one in ODIs.
Thursday’s golden duck was in the Rajya Sabha, where he was nominated as a member in 2012 by then President Pratibha Patil.
