Mumbai: The Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party government Tuesday named cricket great Sachin Tendulkar as Maharashtra’s ‘Smile Ambassador’ to spread awareness about oral health and hygiene across the state.
Tendulkar’s tie-up with the state government’s programme prompted the opposition parties — the Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) — to question his silence over the controversy surrounding Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh who is accused of sexually harassing women wrestlers.
The batting legend will be the face of the state medical education and drug department’s Swachh Mukh Abhiyan (SMA) and has offered his association free of cost, and for the entire duration the government wishes to run the programme, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said.
“India is by the average age among the youngest nations. But while we are among the youngest, are we that healthy and fit? The answer is a big no…. between the age of 5 and 15 more than 50 percent of children have challenges with their oral health, all these challenges are not addressed. This affects the confidence of children,” Tendulkar said, at the signing of his agreement with the Maharashtra government.
He added, his father had made him promise that he will never endorse any company associated with tobacco. “A number of tobacco companies approached me, even put a blank cheque in front of me to fill. Today, I can say proudly that I have never been associated with tobacco,” Tendulkar said.
ThePrint tried reaching Tendulkar for a comment through his media contact person through calls, but there was no response till the time of publishing. This report will be updated as and when a statement is received.
At the event, Fadnavis lauded Tendulkar for being a celebrity with a sense of responsibility which he always fulfils.
“Guthka, mava, kharra. Because of these substances, we can see such diseases on a large scale. The government can only do so much to spread awareness, but when someone like Sachin talks about this, endorses this and appeals, it has a tremendous impact on the youth,” Fadnavis said.
“He is the right person to be the ambassador of this mission. Unfortunately, a lot of celebrities on a large scale advertise such substances, and a narrative is set as if this is a part of lifestyle and one can look stylish because of this. You never see Sachin in such advertisements. When you are a celebrity, you also have some responsibility,” he added.
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‘Sports personalities are also under pressure’
The opposition parties in Maharashtra have urged Tendulkar to speak up for the protesting wrestlers as well. On Sunday, the Delhi Police detained the aggrieved wrestlers, including Vinesh Phogat, Sakshee Malikkh and Bajrang Punia, and filed FIRs for attempting to march towards the new Parliament building.
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) national spokesperson Clyde Crasto said as a spokesperson, it is Tendulkar’s duty to support his own fraternity.
Crasto tagged Tendulkar in two tweets, saying it is good that he has tied up with the BJP-led Maharashtra government as the ‘Smile Ambassador’ and if he knows that the BJP’s Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh has “snatched the smile of our wrestlers.”
Dear @sachin_rt, good to know that you are being appointed by BJP led Maharashtra government as "Smile Ambassador" for the State's 'Swachh Mukh Abhiyan'
But do you know that @BJP4India, to support their MP #BrijBhushanSharanSingh, has "Snatched the Smile" of our wrestlers? (1/2)
— Clyde Crasto – क्लाईड क्रास्टो (@Clyde_Crasto) May 30, 2023
Maharashtra Congress leader Sachin Sawant bemoaned how wrestler Vinesh Phogat’s call to fellow sportspersons to stand up for them had gone in vain.
“We would like to underline the statement given by Vinesh Phogat where she appealed to eminent sports personalities to speak up. They are fighting for justice. The kind of atrocities that they are being subjected to are unprecedented. But her call has gone in vain,” he said.
“This reflects the kind of atmosphere we are in. Sports personalities are also under pressure. On the other hand when the government is in any problem, there are many people who come forward and tweet on behalf of the government even if the government’s stand is against the people. We have seen this during the farmers’ protests. Many celebrities went and condemned the protests at the behest of the government. But, when their own colleagues are fighting, they should take a stand. It is very unfortunate,”
he added.
Olympic gold medalists Neeraj Chopra and Abhinav Bindra, Indian football captain Sunil Chhetri and star boxer Vijender Singh as well as former cricketers Kapil Dev and Irfan Pathan are among a few sportspersons who have come out in support of the wrestlers.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
Also Read: Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh is no saint. But BJP has reasons to look away from wrestlers’ protest