Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray slammed the state government over its apathy towards Achrekar, who coached cricketers such as Sachin Tendulkar, Vinod Kambli among many others.
Maharashtra government was criticised on Thursday for failing to extend state funeral to legendary cricket coach Ramakant Achrekar, who passed away on Wednesday. The 86-year-old was a recipient of Dronacharya and Padma Shri awards.
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray slammed the state government over its apathy towards Achrekar, who coached cricketers such as Sachin Tendulkar, Vinod Kambli among many others.
Thackeray tweeted, "Ramakant Achrekar, coached cricket to Bharat Ratna Sachin Tendulkar and many more remarkable players of our country. A recipient of the Padmashri award and yet the state government chose not to honour him with a state funeral. We need an answer from the government regarding this."
NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik also criticised the BJP government saying that they neither respect the intellectuals, writers, poets nor sportsmen and coaches.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is in charge of the protocol department which decides on issues related to according state funeral. However, minister of protocol Ram Shinde said they could not get enough time to plan. "Besides, it is not mandatory to extend state funeral to all the recipients of Padmashri award," he Shinde adding that they sent a representative of the state to attend Achrekar's funeral at the Chaityabhoomi on Thursday.
Incidentally, Maharashtra government had asked the housing minister Prakash Mehta to attend Achrekar's funeral as a representative of the state government. Mehta reached the funeral site quite late.
He said that he was told 30 minutes before the funeral and therefore, could not make it in time. "However, I will find out what went wrong and whether there was any lack of communication among the officers. We do not want to disrespect anyone. We are here to honour everyone who contributed for the country," said Mehta.
Former India captain and Padma Bhushan award winner Ajit Wadekar and actress Sridevi, who was also a Padma Shri award winner, were given state funerals last year.
Sports minister Vinod Tawde said that the government has not forgotten the contribution of Achrekar.
"Government has decided to honour Achrekar sir by starting a sports institute and launching schemes in his name. We are in talks with the family members of Achrekar sir. He has played an important role in shaping up careers of many sportspersons. We will give him a fitting tribute soon," said Tawde.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Guard of honour")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}