Guest Opinion maker : Kirti Patil, a politico enthusiastic Sports Journo, throws up Googly...even 'God of Cricket' may need Hajmola ...

 -- Well done Kirti....History belongs to Candid talkers ...

Kirti Patil, now based in Pune, joins issue with me for my blog on 'Bharat Ratna and rows involving master blaster' ...and why not...

We are not running down any successful icon. We are only saying --- If anyone displays greed or other baser instincts even God ought to be criticised.

Kirti Patil 

Link ::

My previous blog on Bharat Ratna

..... And not jump up and down - One Parliament Street Boss used to scream and say ---"....Send him to scan desk..." -- Why ? : Just because Sachin scored zero or India lost the match --- despite Anil Kumble taking 10 wickets..."

Here's what KP writes:

(happy reading...)

 - "Sachin Tendulkar being honoured with Bharat Ratna was a moment of pride for the entire Indian sports community. However, many questioned his name being picked too early. 

So far the tradition had been to give the country's highest civilian award to a person,  who would have crossed certain age. So far only politicians had been honoured.  

Tendulkar was from totally different field and an youth icon nonetheless. 

His career was nearing to an end and that probably was the reason Manmohan Singh-led UPA government showed eagerness to honour Tendulkar with Bharat Ratna. Congress certainly wanted to attract youth votes, but the 2014 general elections clearly showed Indian voters are not so gullible.  

I, however, would like to add one more negative about Tendulkar than those listed by the blogger. 

"When the Italian automaker Fiat signed him as its brand ambassador in the era when Fiat India ---once a popular car after Hindustan motors' Ambassador---was no longer manufacturing cars in India. It was really shocking as to what Fiat was up to  by signing Tendulkar as its brand ambassador. Those days India was one of the stop on the calendar of motorsports' premier competition, Formula One. 

   'God of Cricket' .... Tendulkar flagging off Formula One race in 2011 !!

No wonder Tendulkar was chosen to give start to India's first Formula One race in 2011. Ferrari, from the stable of Fiat was one of the key competitors. 

In 2011 legendary driver Michael Schumacher was behind the wheels of Ferrari. The meeting between Schumacher and Tendulkar got much traction and it was then Fiat decided to bank upon the cricket icon. 

Much to the surprise of many the automaker announced that it was gifting a Ferrari to Tendulkar for his services to the company. But when the car reached Mumbai airport custom department rightly stopped the car from being taken out without duty being paid. The duty was Rs. 1.1 crore, 120 percent of the cost of the car. 

Tendulkar was in no mood to pay the tax and instead sought exemption of duty on the premise that the car was a gift. The exemption was eventually allowed much against the wishes of his critics.  

Sandy Storm Hero, Sandip Patil and blogger; Wankhede, 2001

Kapil, Sachin, Azhar and others 

I think Tendulkar could have avoided the negativity by requesting Fiat to pay up the necessary duty.  It is a different matter that India as a Formula One stop was removed from the calendar after the 2013 race.

- KP