EXERCISE CAUTION WHILE SPEAKING ON ‘OTHER FIELDS’: PAWAR TO SACHIN

MUMBAI: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar on Saturday said cricket legend Sachin should be more careful while speaking on issues related to “other fields”, days after the 47-year-old tweeted against foreign celebrities raising the issue of farmers’ protest using the same hashtag the ministry of external affairs included in its statement against attempts to “mobilise international support against India” on the farm protests.

“They (Indian celebrities) have taken a stand but the common people have fiercely reacted to the position taken by them. I would also advise [Sachin] Tendulkar to exercise caution while speaking about other fields,” Pawar said.

On February 3, hours after pop singer Rihanna and climate activist Greta Thunberg spoke about the ongoing farmers’ protest, Tendulkar tweeted: “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.”

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray blamed the Centre for putting the reputations of Tendulkar and legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar, who also tweeted against foreign celebrities raising the issue of farmers’ protest.

“The government should not have asked Sachin Tendulkar and Lata Mangeshkar to tweet and put their reputation at stake... Now they have to face the wrath of social media trolling,” he said.