Opposition even attacked the timing of the decision to nominate Tendulkar to the House of Elders, saying it could be aimed at diverting attention from problems plaguing the government.
Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, BSP chief Mayawati, Samajwadi Party President Mulayam Singh Yadav, Trinamool Congress leader Sudip Bandyopadhaya and Congress leaders Satyavrat Chaturvedi and Raj Babbar welcomed the move.
Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut said Tendulkar should be given the Bharat Ratna but questioned the timing of his nomination to the Rajya Sabha.
Former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar said he was "shocked" at hearing the news while another former international player Aakash Chopra hoped Tendulkar would use his Parliament membership to bring about change in sports.
Raut said, "Sachin is still on the field and has not retired. So why is he not being nominated for Bharat Ratna? And if Sachin is being used to divert attention from the problems plaguing Congress, then such politics should not be practised by them. Anything that Congress does is inspired by politics. Sachin is above politics."
Mayawati, a Rajya Sabha member, welcomed Tendulkar's nomination, but took a dig at Congress, saying people "know very well the intentions of the Congress party."
She said people from all walks of life enter Parliament and hoped the master-blaster proves himself in the Upper House like he has done in the cricketing world.
Chaturvedi rubbished the Opposition charge that Tendulkar has been nominated to divert attention. (MORE) PTI TGB NAB RC AKK
