Kapil slams Govt`s `double standard` on duty waiver to Sachin

Bangalore, Aug 21: Dubbing it a "double standard", cricket legend Kapil Dev today slammed the government for waiving of Rs 1.13 crore duty on the Ferrari car gifted to ace batsman Sachin Tendulkar by Fiat and called for a uniform policy for all sportspersons.
"While I am happy about Sachin getting a car, it (duty waiver) should apply to every sportsperson. That is more important," Kapil told reporters here.
"Why can we not have the same system for everybody. Because everybody sweats for his country. I think they (Finance Ministry) should have given a discount as it was in their hands. Change of policy totally, I don't think it's a good point," he said.
"You can't change a policy for one person. If you change a policy, you change it for everybody," Kapil said.
"Suppose tomorrow Viswanathan Anand or Dhanraj Pillay or Sourav Ganguly or Amitabh Bachchan gets an aircraft as gift, will you charge duty or not?", he asked.
"If you charge duty, then this policy (of exemption for Sachin) is wrong. If you don't charge, then this policy is fair," he said.

"You have to set a precedent, and you can set a precedent. I hope government is in a better position to answer."
Bureau Report

"Suppose tomorrow Viswanathan Anand or Dhanraj Pillay or Sourav Ganguly or Amitabh Bachchan gets an aircraft as gift, will you charge duty or not?", he asked.

"If you charge duty, then this policy (of exemption for Sachin) is wrong. If you don't charge, then this policy is fair," he said.

"You have to set a precedent, and you can set a precedent. I hope government is in a better position to answer."