When the God of Cricket took up a new mantle as a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha in April 2012, expectations were rife that he’d deliver masterstrokes in this field too. However, Sachin Tendulkar’s stint as a Rajya Sabha MP gave more fodder to critics than to his fans, particularly about his abysmal attendance.
On March 28, as PM Narendra Modi bid farewell to a bunch of retiring MPs, including Rekha and Sachin Tendulkar, nobody failed to notice how these two promising members failed in their roles. While Sachin’s attendance came upto 7.3%, Rekha’s was a poor 4.5%.
However, in a move applauded by many, Sachin Tendulkar decided to donate his MP salary, 90 lakh drawn over a term of 6 months, to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund.
According to News 18, Sachin has attended a mere 29 of the nearly 400 Parliament sessions during his tenure as MP. He has asked 22 questions and introduced 0 bills. He has drawn Rs 86.23 lakh as salary since April 2012.
Rekha, with her 18-session attendance and 0 questions or bills introduced during her six-year stint, has drawn a salary of almost a crore.
Sachin’s request has also received a letter of acknowledgement from the PM.
Many have praised Sachin’s integrity and benevolence over this move, which is being deemed as yet another masterstroke!
Sachin winning hearts will never get old!
1. Masterstroke by the Master Blaster!
Sachin Tendulkar's Rajya Sabha Term Has Ended And He Has Donated His Entire Salary (About Rs 90 Lakh) To The Prime Minister's Relief Fund. Master Stroke By Master Blaster. 🙏🇮🇳 #SachinTendulkar pic.twitter.com/lIEst5rykC
— Sir Jadeja fan (@SirJadeja) April 1, 2018
2. What a straight drive!
What a Straight Drive. Lofted over the Bowlers head into the stands.
Sachin Tendulkar has donated his entire salary from Rajya Sabha in his term as MP to the Prime Minister's relief fund. Well Done Legend @sachin_rt.— Prabhu (@Cricprabhu) April 1, 2018
3. Ha!
Sachin donated his entire salary as MP worth 90 lakhs to PM relief fund, haters will say that he failed to handle nervous ninety again.
— EngiNerd. (@mainbhiengineer) April 1, 2018
However, the critics are still not impressed, arguing that it’s NBD since he did not deserve the salary in the first place, owing to his poor attendance.
TBH, however harsh it might be, there’s a fair point in there somewhere.
1. When you put it like that!
Before that he had donated the time he should have spent as a MP to other causes. https://t.co/aQF3200PhL
— Arnab Ray (@greatbong) April 1, 2018
2. Sorry, not a masterstroke!
I don't think it's master stroke. He could do something for society for which he was elected as Rajya sabha member. Donating people's money which is earned from people for not doing anything to people is not master stroke..#SachinTendulkar
— Dr Vijay Paradava (@Vijayparadava) April 1, 2018
3. No salary for 7%….
Chill, guys. With 7% attendance, he shouldn't be getting any salary in the first place. https://t.co/6jR5RC22VN
— Parth MN (@parthpunter) April 1, 2018
4. This won’t be making up for the massive let-down!
https://twitter.com/dnrmanchuri/status/980665066071711744
5. He didn’t play to his strengths on the platform he was given.
He was not there to donate. He was there to use to platform and money to serve the nation. A Lutyens banglow for 5 years and umpteen benefits is worth much more than 90L. https://t.co/LhWA1m1INt
— Akram Javed (@soorazkhan) April 2, 2018
6. Sachin knew….
MP @sachin_rt donates entire salary to PM's Relief Fund. At least he knows he's not doing anything as an MP. Good.
— mayflower (@MGNTheTwin) April 1, 2018
7. A drastic step to ensure attendance?
Attendance of Rekha 4.5% and Sachin Tendulkar 7.3%. He donates entire salary nearly Rs 90 lakh & other monthly allowances to Prime Minister's Relief Fund. Nice move but This will not solve Attendance issue. Why to give Salary for 7% Attendance? We should link Salary to Attendance
— Anshul Saxena (@AskAnshul) April 1, 2018
8. Ek HR joke toh banta hai!
HR Managers across India should learn from Sachin Tendulkar. Don't accept the salary you get for doing nothing, donate it to charity.
— Gappistan Radio (@GappistanRadio) April 1, 2018
Phew! That was harsh. Although it is the price a celebrity pays for not standing up to the expectations of his fans and critics. Sachin Tendulkar and Rekha’s MP tenure has often been under the scanner for abysmal attendance and non-performance of expected duties. And while it is not acceptable for MPs to get away with such an abuse of privilege, Sachin’s decision to donate his salary could be a way to make amends.
If not mend their ways, the least such MPs can do is decline the rewards and privileges that come with the job they’re not performing well. It is only fair, right?