Bharat Ratna for Tendulkar soon?

Home Ministry has sent a letter to the Prime Minister’s office recommending inclusion of sports as a category for Bharat Ratna.

Zeenews Bureau

New Delhi: The increasing decibel level of voices clamouring for awarding Bharat Ratna to Sachin Tendulkar has led the Home Ministry to send a letter to the Prime Minister’s office recommending inclusion of sports as a category for Bharat Ratna. The letter asked for amendments to include sports as a category that will in turn make exceptional sportspersons eligible to be considered for the highest civilian honour. If the recommendations are agreed upon, cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar might be the first sportsman to be awarded India`s highest civilian award. As per the present guidelines, Bharat Ratna is awarded for exceptional service towards advancement of art, literature and science, and in recognition of public service of the highest order. This proposal has received good support from all corners. Congress had justified the government`s proposal to include Sports as a category for Bharat Ratna awards. "India has some jewels who do not require any awards to remain jewels. Sachin is also such a jewel. This is an important proposal to include Sports in the category for Bharat Ratna. This is not a question of an individual but including a category." party spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said. Sports Minister Ajay Maken had earlier sent a note to P Chidambaram back in April to include sports in the list of categories for Bharat Ratna that in turn led the home ministry forwarding a letter with positive observations to the PMO. The demand to bestow Sachin with the Bharat Ratna was first made way back in the year 2003 by the Shiv Sena and subsequently by the then Human Resource Development (HRD) minister Murli Manohar Joshi.