Justice Markandey Katju draws Shiv Sena ire over Sachin Tendulkar’s Ratna

Mumbai: Attacking the Press Council of India Chairman, Justice Markandey Katju for his reported remarks about conferring the Bharat Ratna on cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar, Shiv Sena questioned the work done by the media watchdog under his stewardship.

Amid the row over continued absence of Mr Tendulkar and Ms Rekha from the Rajya Sabha, Katju had reportedly said awarding Bharat Ratna to the cricketer and nominating the Bollywood actor to the Parliament was a “disgrace to the country”.

“What has been the contribution of Tendulkar and Rekha in the Rajya Sabha ? it is a big zero. Then why were they made M.P.s,” Katju had reportedly said in a recent twitter post. “Awarding Bharat Ratna to Tendulkar & making Rekha M.P. was a disgrace to our country. Bharat Ratna shud have been awarded to Subramania,” he had said.

“Sachin and Rekha did not go to the government asking to be nominated to Rajya Sabha. The President nominated them, honouring sports and arts,” stated in the editorial of Saamana.

“Justice Katju is occupying an important post even after retirement. Even he cannot tell which work of the Council progressed during his tenure,” the editorial stated.

“ Both Sachin and Major Dhyan Chand could have been given Bharat Ratna at the same time, but the UPA government did not do it. That is the fault of those in power,” the Saamna editorial said.