A supercar for a superstar

I am among the countless people who are Sachin Tendulkar8217;s fans. Therefore, it is not easy to play spoilsport at a time when the world ...

I am among the countless people who are Sachin Tendulkar8217;s fans. Therefore, it is not easy to play spoilsport at a time when the world is lauding him for being the youngest cricketer to have played in 100 Tests.

Clearly, Tendulkar did every Indian proud by playing his 100th Tests and it is entirely in order that the government, too, should join in this mass frenzy. But should it have passed a resolution wherein, without any consultation and debate, it waived off the import duty on Tendulkar8217;s Ferrari 8212; a sum of Rs 1.5 crore? The car, it may be recalled, was presented to Tendulkar by Formula World Champion Michael Schumacher on behalf of the car manufacturer, Fiat.

Tendulkar deserves all the praise and admiration he gets. He is truly a genius at the game and a hero for our times. He is a perfect gentleman, to boot, patriotic, non-controversial and loved by everyone. He also happens to be one of the richest people in India. Of course, he deserved every rupee of the huge sums of money he gets every year 8212; through endorsements, commercials, prize money. But does Tendulkar really need this huge tax exemption as well? This Ferrari was not won through a match, or presented by a government. Nor did he buy it. The car was part of a simple commercial arrangement between a large automobile company and a celebrity sportsman. It was actually more of a cash transaction payment made to Tendulkar for endorsing their car. It could well have been hard cash but it was a car instead.

So what business did the government have to interfere and waive off the duty on it? He can surely afford this huge customs8217; duty and, if not, he would have always sold the car. Or maybe the government could have given a bit of a concession on the duty, rather than waiving the entire amount.

Probably Tendulkar never asked for it. Then, again, he may have done so. But that8217;s okay considering that all of us are constantly asking for favours and legitimate concessions. But by waiving off this duty isn8217;t the government setting a precedent?

What if a Shah Rukh Khan or a Mahesh Bhupati endorses a car and is gifted one for their efforts. Will the duty on it be waived off to? And what about unrecognised sportspeople who play games like kabaddi, hockey and wrestling, and who would don8217;t have enough money to even buy a car. Will duties on products they endorse and get gifted with, be exempted?

Or is an exception only being made to Tendulkar because he is playing his 100th test? How many times have medicines and other life saving drugs and equipment been sent back after rotting in the godowns of the Customs, because a hospital or an organisation could not pay duty for the goods, which were in the first place sent free? Does the government intervene in such circumstances?

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Of course, it8217;s not fair to put the onus of this on Tendulkar alone.

Probably the government volunteered to do it. But the question, however, refuses to go away: why waive off such a large amount on a luxury car won through an endorsement when the awardee can afford to make the payment?