Editing Sachin Tendulkar (section)

== Political career ==
In April 2012, Tendulkar was [[List of nominated members of the Rajya Sabha|nominated]] by [[Pratibha Patil|President Pratibha Patil]] to the [[Rajya Sabha]], the upper house of [[Parliament of India|India's parliament]]. He became the first active sportsperson and cricketer to receive the honour.<ref name="RajyaSabhaNom2">{{cite news|title=Rajya Sabha stint |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/Sachin-starts-Rajya-Sabha-stint-seeks-help-to-bring-changes/Article1-865571.aspx |access-date=4 June 2012 |newspaper=[[Hindustan Times]] |date=4 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120604140724/http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/Sachin-starts-Rajya-Sabha-stint-seeks-help-to-bring-changes/Article1-865571.aspx |archive-date=4 June 2012 }}</ref><ref name="RajyaSabhaNom1">{{cite news|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/sachin-tendulkar-says-yes-to-rs-nomination/252413-37-64.html |title=Sachin Tendulkar accepts Congress's Rajya Sabha nomination offer: reports |location=India |access-date=26 April 2012 |publisher=[[CNN-IBN]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120428110644/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/sachin-tendulkar-says-yes-to-rs-nomination/252413-37-64.html |archive-date=28 April 2012 }}</ref>  He took the oath of office on 4 June.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.cricbuzz.com/?utm_source=gocricket&utm_medium=webredirect&utm_campaign=timesinternet&referral=PM | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130126040825/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-06-04/top-stories/32030472_1_cricket-oath-sachin-ramesh-tendulkar | archive-date=26 January 2013 | work=[[The Times of India]] | title=Sachin Tendulkar sworn in as Rajya Sabha MP | url-status=live | date=4 June 2012 }}</ref> He refused to accept the bungalow allotted to him in [[New Delhi]], calling it "a waste of [taxpayers'] money as I reside in Mumbai".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/sport/report_sachin-tendulkar-turns-down-government-quarter_1700417 |title=Sachin Tendulkar turns down government quarter |date=10 June 2012 |access-date=10 June 2012 |publisher=DNA Media, Mumbai |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120613175042/http://www.dnaindia.com/sport/report_sachin-tendulkar-turns-down-government-quarter_1700417 |archive-date=13 June 2012 }}</ref>

=== Attendance ===
As a member of parliament in Rajya Sabha, Tendulkar was one of the worst performers in regards to attendance at parliament sessions and house debates.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sachin Tendulkar Says Medical Emergency in Family Kept Him Away From Parliament |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/sachin-tendulkar-says-medical-emergency-in-family-kept-him-away-from-parliament-647078 |access-date=18 November 2021 |website=NDTV.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=7 August 2014 |title=Sachin Tendulkar yet to attend parliament this year |work=[[The Times of India]] |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Sachin-Tendulkar-yet-to-attend-Parliament-this-year/articleshow/39804053.cms |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808110415/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Sachin-Tendulkar-yet-to-attend-Parliament-this-year/articleshow/39804053.cms |archive-date=8 August 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=3 August 2017 |title=Why "worst performer" Sachin Tendulkar had to attend Rajya Sabha |work=Hindustan Times |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/sachin-tendulkar-attends-rajya-sabha-after-criticism-about-his-absence/story-IgfnbH5qDlszQzqq9nB1dI_amp.html}}</ref> Fellow MPs from various parties, including other nominated MPs, criticised Tendulkar for his absence.<ref>{{cite news |date=3 August 2017 |title=Tendulkar attends Rajya Sabha, after being questioned |language=en |work=ABP |url=https://news.abplive.com/news/india/tendulkar-attends-rajya-sabha-after-being-questioned-560609 |access-date=22 April 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=8 August 2014 |title=MPs question absence of Sachin Tendulkar, Rekha from Rajya Sabha |work=Deccan Chronicle |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/140808/nation-current-affairs/article/mps-question-absence-sachin-tendulkar-rekha-rajya-sabha |access-date=18 November 2021}}</ref>  In his first year, he did not attend a single day of budget or winter session, and his attendance for the monsoon session was 5&nbsp;percent. In his career as an MP, he asked 22 questions and did not participate in any debates. He was part of the Standing Committee on Information Technology. Overall, his attendance for his six year-term was 8&nbsp;percent.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kaushik |first1=Pragya |date=9 August 2018 |title=Mary Kom is a much better MP than Sachin Tendulkar |work=The Print |url=https://www.theprint.in/politics/mary-kom-is-a-much-better-mp-than-sachin-tendulkar/95353/%3famp |access-date=22 April 2022}}</ref> In response to criticism about his attendance, Tendulkar said that he was absent because of personal issues.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Uttam |first1=Kumar |date=8 August 2014 |title=Rajya Sabha MPs question absence of Sachin, Rekha |language=en |work=Hindustan Times |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/rajya-sabha-mps-question-absence-of-sachin-rekha/story-InTgK3CaMTOdfrHcXaNB3M_amp.html |access-date=22 April 2022}}</ref>

=== Use of funds ===
In 2015, Tendulkar released {{INRConvert|76|l|year=2015|to=USD}} from his [[Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme]] fund to a [[West Midnapore|West Midnapore, West Bengal]], school after receiving a request from the school.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Sachin Tendulkar donates Rs 76 lakh to Bengal school|work=Deccan Chronicle|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/sports/cricket/130616/sachin-tendulkar-donates-rs-76-lakh-to-wb-school-for-new-facilities.html}}</ref> In 2019, Tendulkar contributed {{INRConvert|22|l|to=USD}} from his Members of Parliament Local Area Development (MPLAD) funds allotted to him during his stint as Rajya Sabha MP for the renovation of a Children's Park in East Bandra.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/mumbai-sachin-gifts-childhood-park-a-makeover/articleshow/68312146.cms|title=Mumbai: Sachin gifts childhood park a makeover|date=8 March 2019|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|language=en|access-date=17 July 2019}}</ref>

In his six years as a Rajya Sabha MP, Tendulkar accrued nearly {{INRConvert|90|l|to=USD}} in salaries and other monthly allowances. He donated this entire salary and allowances to the Prime Minister Relief Fund. In response, the [[Prime Minister's Office (India)|Prime Minister's Office]] released a statement: "Prime Minister acknowledges this thoughtful gesture and conveys his gratitude. These contributions will be of immense help in providing assistance to the persons in distress".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/mp-tendulkar-donates-his-salary-to-pms-relief-fund/articleshow/63566139.cms|title=MP Tendulkar donates his salary to PM's Relief Fund|date=2 April 2018|work=The Economic Times|access-date=23 January 2020}}</ref>