IT Correspondent
Mumbai, Feb 6:
In protest to the cricketing legend’s tweets about international personalities commenting on the farm laws, a group of Indian Youth Congress workers on Friday, February 05 poured black oil on a cut-out of Sachin Tendulkar in Kochi, Kerala.
Although Congress has been vocal in its opposition to the farm laws, the grand old party’s youth wing efiled the image of a national icon in a prominent city spelling trouble. Earlier, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) had said that Sachin Tendulkar is a ‘model’ for exceptional contribution in cricket but questioned his ‘politics’ over the tweet.
In a controversial statement, the RJD had also raised issues with the Bharat Ratna conferred to Sachin. “This is an insult to the Bharat Ratna that people like Sachin Tendulkar are conferred with such a prestigious award,” RJD national vice-president Shivanand Tiwari said earlier in the day. He had also alleged that the Union government “fielded” Sachin Tendulkar to “counter” international personalities who recently commented on the ongoing farmers’ protests, and said it was an insult to the nation.
However, the BJP expectedly called out the RJD leader’s statement, describing it as “absurd and uncalled for”, and claimed that Tiwari should apologise to the people of the country for “abusing” the Bharat Ratna recipient.
In Maharashtra, former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis asked Mahavikas Aghadi Government, whether it is going to tolerate an insult to national icon and a “Maharashtrian” like this ?
Pop superstar Rihanna, teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg and the US vice president’s niece Meena Harris had tweeted support for the farmers after internet services were blocked in Haryana to stop rumours related to farmers’ agitation spreading further.
In response Sachin had tweeted, “India’s sovereignty cannot be compromised. External forces can be spectators but not participants. Indians know India and should decide for India. Let’s remain united as a nation.
