Lata miffed as Sachin not allowed to speak in Rajya Sabha

Both living legends, and icons in their own right, Lata Mangeshkar and Sachin Tendulkar share a very special bond. And this goes beyond the fact that they have both received a Bharat Ratna.

The singer and cricketer have been known to pay respect to each other and compliment each other at any given opportunity. While Lata loves cricket and is a fan of Sachin’s batting, the cricketer loves her songs.

So, when Sachin was not allowed to have his say in the Rajya Sabha last week, Lata was upset, and in a rare display of emotion, she expressed her displeasure on a public platform.

She says, “Sachin calls me ‘maa’. He called to take my blessings before proceeding to the Parliament. Then, when I heard what had happened, I was very distressed. Sachin ko bolne nahi diya (they didn’t let him speak). This is not just an insult to one of cricket’s biggest icons, but also to any voice chosen to be heard in the Parliament.”

Lata recalls her own stint in the Rajya Sabha, which wasn’t free of controversies. “I was criticised for not attending the sessions, when, in fact, I had made clear that it would be difficult for me to do so, given my health issues. But when Sachin attends, he’s not allowed to speak. So, we get slammed either way,” she adds.

The legendary singer feels that Sachin’s voice deserves to be heard. “He’s a man of integrity and a sportsperson of tremendous worth. I’m glad he chose to put the speech he prepared for the Parliament on Twitter instead. The advantage of social media is that we get to express ourselves directly. The disadvantage is that we often get trolled for speaking our hearts out,” she sighs.