Former India cricketer Sachin Tendulkar is facing widespread ridicule after tennis legend Martina Navratilova termed Home Minister Amit Shah’s claims on Prime Minister Narendra Modi a ‘joke.’
This was after Shah told in an interview given to a government-owned TV channel, Sansad TV, that Modi was not a dictator. Sharing the link to the news item, Navratilova tweeted, “And for my next joke.”
No sooner did the winner of 18 Grand Slam tweet, it prompted netizens to target Tendulkar by mocking his pro-government stand in the past. Tendulkar was one of the celebrities, who had moved swiftly to toe the government line when international celebrities such as Greta Thunberg and Rhianna publicly condemned the BJP government’s violent crackdown against protesting farmers.
Attention @DrSJaishankar activate Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli now.. This cannot be tolerated.. https://t.co/NihTQzesPr
— Swati Chaturvedi (@bainjal) October 10, 2021
Waiting for @sachin_rt & @imVkohli to give lectures to @Martina that her joke is an 'internal matter' of India, and no outsider should interfere ????
— Satish _Bee (@BeeSatish) October 10, 2021
Martina Navratilova serves in the court, Sachin Tendulkar serves the Government.
— Narundar (@NarundarM) October 11, 2021
This should activate Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Saina Nehwal etc and Martina Navratilova will trend in India soon pic.twitter.com/1nmocRdCs0
— Joy (@Joydas) October 10, 2021
Tendulkar was recently found his name in the list of more than 300 world leaders and other influential figures, who allegedly used global tax havens to park their money.
Reacting to the criticism from international celebrities on the government crackdown against farmers, Tendulkar had tweeted in February this year, “India’s sovereignty cannot be compromised. External forces can be spectators but not participants. Indians know India and should decide for India. Let’s remain united as a nation. #IndiaTogether #IndiaAgainstPropaganda.”
Speaking to Sansad TV, Shah had also said that Modi was not a dictator saying that he came across as a great listener, who paid attention to others’ opinions.
“I have never met a listener like him. Whatever issue a meeting may be about, Modi Ji speaks as little as required and listens to everyone patiently. He considers the value of the person’s opinion and then takes a decision. So there’s no truth to the charges that he is dictatorial,” he had said.
As for Navratilova, she’s the winner of 18 Grand Slam and previously partnered with India’s Leander Paes in the mixed doubles event at Grand Slam events.
