Sachin Tendulkar cynosure of all eyes in Rajya Sabha

NEW DELHI: Cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar was the cynosure of all eyes in Rajya Sabha today on the first day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament.

Wearing blue striped shirt and black trousers, Tendulkar walked in with Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajeev Shukla well before the House was called to order.

Tendulkar, who was nominated as a Rajya Sabha member in April last year along with Bollywood actor Rekha and businesswoman Anu Aga, shook hands with some MPs before taking his seat.

He was soon engrossed in animated discussion with noted lyricist Javed Akhtar, sitting next to him.

All the while, his wife Anjali watched from the visitors' gallery.

Tendulkar thumped the desk when Chairman Hamid Ansari congratulated the Indian cricket team for winning the Champions Trophy.

When the House was adjourned for 10 minutes following disruptions, some MPs walked up to him to shake hands.

Tendulkar went up to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and shook hands with him.