MP Sachin Tendulkar makes rare appearance in Parliament

Cricket icon and Rajya Sabha member Sachin Tendulkar on Thursday made a rare appearance in Parliament on the first day of the new session of the Upper House.

Bharat Ratna awardee Tendulkar immediately attracted attention of fellow members when he entered the House at around 12 PM.

Some MPs, including DMK's T Siva and a few young members, came to greet him and shake hands.

Tendulkar, who was nominated to the Rajya Sabha in April 2012, rarely comes to Parliament for which he has been often criticised.

He had attended the House during the last session for three days out of 19 sittings. In the last Winter session too, he had attended the House only for three days out of 22 sittings.

In Monsoon session last year, members cutting across party line had termed his long absence as "disrespect to House and nation" and there were demands for seeking an explanation from him particularly when he was here in Delhi to attend a programme near Parliament last week but did not come to Rajya Sabha.