(Image source from: Why Manmohan Singh favored Sachin Tendulkar over Dhyan Chand for Bharat Ratna?})

The Manmohan Singh-led UPA government might have fallen out of power, but shocking revelations continue to tumble out of its drawers even to this day, causing much uproar.

As per the latest leak, the much-hyped Bharat Ratna, which was awarded to cricket legend this year, was apparently meant for the great hockey wiz Dhyan Chand. That's right! Major Dhyan Chand and not Sachin Tendulkar was the first choice for the coveted honor. However, PMO swapped Dhyan Chand to favor Sachin, hurting the sentiments, not only of his family and fans, but also dishonoring the national game.

Last July, the then Sports Minister Jitendra Singh had recommended the hockey legend's name for the Bharat Ratna. Former PM Manmohan Singh accepted it then. The internal PMO note reveals Dhyan Chand's name was being tossed around for the award till early August 2013.

However, on November 14, the PMO asked the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports to submit the bio-data of Sachin Tendulkar immediately. Incidentally, it was the last day of Sachin's cricketing career.

Reacting to the controversial switch, Dhyan Chand's son Ashok Kumar, himself an accomplished hockey player, said, "It is a matter of great disappointment for crores of Indians that Dhyan Chand's name was excluded and Sachin Tendulkar's name was brought forward. It was a political game played against Major Dhyan Chand."

Considered the greatest ever hockey player, Dhyan Chand helped India win three Olympic golds in the 1928, 1932 and 1936 Olympics.

Talking on the issue, Congress MP and BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shuklasteered clear saying, "No comparison should be done between Sachin Tendulkar and Major Dhyan Chand.”

That said, do you think it was right on the part of the PMO to honor Sachin Tendulkar in lieu of Dhyan Chand — the two greats? Sound off your comments below.

AW: Suchorita Choudhury