Sachin Tendulkar turns down government quarter

Sachin Tendulkar has politely turned down the Type 7 bungalow allotted to him in the New Delhi’s 5, Tuglaq Lane. By virtue of being a Rajya Sabha member, Tendulkar was allotted the bungalow that is supposedly close to Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi’s house. Tendulkar has said he would not like to waste the tax payer’s money by accepting a building where he is unlikely to stay too long.

“I’m not keen on blocking a government bungalow because this would be a waste of tax paper’s money as I reside in Mumbai,” the Little Master, who was sworn as Rajya Sabha member on Monday, said in statement released to DNA.

Tendulkar pleaded with the authorities to allot the building to someone who might need it more than him. “It would be better if the bungalow is allotted to someone else who needs it more than me,” he said.

The 39-year-old, still active in international cricket, said he would prefer staying in a hotel whenever he is in the Capital to attend the Rajya Sabha sessions. He also made it clear that he would like to meet his own staying expenses in New Delhi when he’s on official work.

The batsman with 100 international centuries felt the privilege of being a member of the upper house of Parliament is bigger than the perks that come with it. “For me, the honour of being nominated as Rajya Sabha MP matters the most,” said Tendulkar, who was nominated to the Rajya Sabha recently.

There has been a controversy over the allotment of a Type 7 quarter to Tendulkar. First time MPs are apparently given Type 5 or Type 6 bungalows. Rajiv Shukla, union minister of state for parliamentary affairs and chairman of the Indian Premier League, clarified on his Twitter post: “All nominated RS MPs entitled to Type 7 accommodation in Delhi. Don’t understand the unnecessary hue & cry surrounding Sachin’s house.”