Why no Bharat Ratna for Dhyan Chand, asks JD-U MP

Janata Dal-United Member of Parliament Shivanand Tiwari on Monday questioned the government’s decision to confer the Bharat Ratna on Sachin Tendulkar and not legendary hockey player Dhyan Chand.

“Why Bharat Ratna was given to cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, and why not to hockey player Dhyan Chand?” Tiwari, known for his frank talk, told media persons in Patna.

The senior JD-U leader said the concerned ministry had shortlisted the name of Dhyan Chand for the Bharat Ratna honour.

“It stunned me that instead of Dhyan Chand, Bharat Ratna was given to Sachin Tendulkar,” he said.

“Unlike Dhyan Chand, Sachin Tendulkar was not playing free of cost. Sachin has made crores of rupees by helping corporates to market cricket in the country,” Tiwari said.

Interestingly, JD-Uleader and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday welcomed the Bharat Ratna for Tendulkar.

Image: Sachin Tendulkar

Photograph: Hitesh Harisinghani/Reuters