Sachin says no to government bungalow

NEW DELHI: Cricketer Sachin Tendulkar has refused to accept the government bungalow he is entitled to as Rajya Sabha member, saying such a stay would be a waste of taxpayers’ money.

“I am not keen on staying in any govt bungalow when I will be in Delhi for only a few days. I feel this would be a waste of tax payers’ money and it would be better if the bungalow is allotted to someone else who needs the bungalow more than me,” he told a news channel.

Tendulkar, who took oath as MP on Monday, said he would prefer to stay in a hotel in Delhi every time he is in Delhi.

“For me the honour of being nominated as a Rajya Sabha MP matters much more than the perks and privileges like being given a govt bungalow.

“Not taking a government bungalow would not affect my responsibilities as Rajya Sabha MP. I do hope to attend few days of parliament in every session,” the channel quoted him as saying in a release before leaving for London.

Ever since his nomination, there have been questions over whether he would be able to devote time for Parliament over his cricketing commitments.