Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said on Monday that hockey legend Late Major Dhyan Chand must be given the Bharat Ratna award before Sachin Tendulkar.
"I admire Sachin Tendulkar a lot but if anyone deserves to get the Khel Ratna award before him, it should be Major Dhyan Chand", said Chouhan, who was speaking at a sports award function.
There has been much talk about a bent in the eligibility rules for the highest civilian award which has never been given to any sportsperson.
Chouhan had earlier asked Tendulkar to snub the IPL for the Bharat Ratna award. He had said the fact that a player of Sachin's stature being sold and bought had deeply hurt him.
Chouhan also slammed the cash-rich Indian Premier League and said that the tournament is not a game but just a way to make money.
"I think the game should not be made a spectacle, people are investing money and making money out of it, the rich people should atleast leave games and sports alone", said Chouhan.
