'Boycott govt programmes for not giving Achrekar state funeral': Sena tells Tendulkar

A senior Maharashtra minister Thursday said Achrekar not being given a state funeral was due to a "communication gap" at the government level, reported PTI. Maharashtra Housing Minister Prakash Mehta, who represented the state government at the funeral of the celebrated cricket coach, said Achrekar not being given a state funeral was "sad and unfortunate".

(FILES) In this file photo taken on October 31, 2018 former Indian cricketers Sachin Tendulkar (L) and Vinod Kambli pose for a picture with their former coach Ramakant Achrekar (C) in Mumbai. - Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar paid a glowing tribute on January 3, 2019 to Ramakant Achrekar, his childhood coach and lifelong mentor who has died aged 87. (Photo by Prakash PARSEKAR / AFP)

Mumbai: The Shiv Sena on Friday asked Sachin Tendulkar to boycott all government programmes in future after the latter’s coach Ramakan Achrekar wasn’t accorded a state funeral.  "Why wasn't Padma Shri and Dronacharya awardee Ramakant Acharekar given a state funeral and respect by the Maharshtra government? The government has shown complete disregard towards Ramakant Acharekar. Sachin Tendulkar should boycott government programmes henceforth," Sanjay Raut, Shiv Sena MP tweeted. Achrekar (87) died of age-related ailments Wednesday. Tendulkar was seen at the funeral bidding a tearful adieu to his guru on Thursday. A senior Maharashtra minister Thursday said Achrekar not being given a state funeral was due to a "communication gap" at the government level, reported PTI. Maharashtra Housing Minister Prakash Mehta, who represented the state government at the funeral of the celebrated cricket coach, said Achrekar not being given a state funeral was "sad and unfortunate". Meanwhile, heaping praise on Achrekar for his outstanding contribution in shaping the lives of cricketers like Tendulkar, Vinod Kambli, Balwinder Singh, Chandrakant Pandit, Pravin Amre, Sanjay Bangar and Ramesh Powar, the Sena, in an editorial in party mouthpiece 'Saamana', said the government not according a state funeral was "troubling" and "harrowing".

Why wasn't Padmashree and Dronacharya awardee Ramakant Acharekar given state funeral and respect by the Maharshtra government ? . The Government has shown complete disregard towards Ramakant acharekar . Sachin Tendulkar should boycott government programs henceforth .

— Sanjay Raut (@rautsanjay61) January 3, 2019

"The government forgot to fulfil its responsibility and accord a state funeral to the great Acharya and blamed it on a communication gap. It is as much troubling as it is harrowing," the Sena said. Sena said the inefficiency of the government was exposed by not giving Achrekar a state funeral but at the same time it doesn’t mean the coach’s contribution to the game has lessened by any chance. Sena despite being a constituent of the NDA has been escalating its attack on BJP and reportedly has made indications of not renewing its partnership for upcoming Lok Sabha and assembly polls.