Cricketers are not slaves Mr. Minister

Union Minister for Sports M.S. Gill's statement that the absence of Dhoni and Harbajan at the Padma awards function will be seriously dealt with is condemnable.

The minister should know that the players are citizens like any other and recipients of the Padma awards like any other and have a right to call it a miss for any personal reason or otherwise. The attempt of the sports ministry to own the players is ridiculous.

And that too when they get only 10 days of break from busy cricket schedules and when they are about to leave to South Africa for a month long tournament. 

The minister should also remember that being a sportsperson does not mean that they are the slaves of the ministry.