Sachin Tendulkar's Rajya Sabha nomination perfectly valid: Chidambaram

NEW DELHI: Cricketer Sachin Tendulkar's nomination to Rajya Sabha is perfectly valid under the provisions of the Constitution, Home Minister P Chidambaram said today.

"That is not our reading of the Constitution provision. I think the Constitution provision is very clear and I urge all of you to read it once again," he told a press conference.

He was asked about questions being raised on the nomination of the cricketer under Article 80 of the Constitution.

"Hence, Sachin Tendulkar's nomination is perfectly valid under that provision," the minister said.

Former Lok Sabha Secretary General Subhash Kashyap has raked up the issue saying sports is not mentioned in the Constitution as a category under which a person can be nominated as Rajya Sabha member.

Under Article 80 of the Constitution the government can nominate to the Rajya Sabha 12 persons having special knowledge or practical experience in respect of such matters as the following, namely: Literature, science, art and social service.

Tendulkar (39) was nominated last week to Rajya Sabha along with actor Rekha and industrialist Anu Aga.