Cong for inclusion of sports as a category for Bharat Ratna

New Delhi, Jul 23 (PTI) Congress Saturday justified
the Indian government's proposal to include Sports as a
category for Bharat Ratna awards amid calls from several
quarters for the country's highest civilian honour to be
conferred on cricket maestro Sachin Tendulkar.
"India has some jewels who do not require any awards
to remain jewels. Sachin is also such a jewel. This is an
important proposal to include Sports in the category for
Bharat Ratna. This is not a question of an individual but
including a category.
"Sports Minister has sent a proposal and that is
with the government. It is a policy process. Let us wait and
watch. If and when any such decision is indeed taken, I do not
think there are any people in the country, who will think that
such names are not appropriate for this category," party
spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said.
He was replying to questions on the Home Ministry
reportedly okaying the Sports Ministry's proposal and sending
it to the Prime Minister's Office.
Sports minister Ajay Maken had earlier written to Home
Minister P Chidambaram seeking the inclusion of sports as a
category for the Bharat Ratna after calls from several
quarters for Sachin to get the award. PTI AMR
KAP