The News Minute | September 12, 2014 | 9.25 am ISTImagine if Barack Obama, once out of office, took to selling wonder tablets that boost your height? Or after she demits office, Angela Merkel of Germany was to sell curtains?Imagination time is over - now switch on your television sets. There we see Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lawmaker Hema Malini selling water safe to drink. Having run out of ideas, the water company has now gone into a delivery ward where a woman is about to give birth and Ms. Malini hands the father a glass of fresh water. Daily sexism is all well and kicking. There’s worse. Rajya Sabha MP Sachin Tendulkar sells ceiling fans. We don’t know whether they keep him cool, but they certainly keep him away from Rajya Sabha of which he is a nominated member and has not attended for more than a week due to health reasons - must be the fans.The last straw probably is that he continues to sell consumer products even after he was conferred the Bharat Ratna, the Indian republic’s highest honour. Imagine a Nobel Laureate selling cars. That’s how badly it is perceived because neither Ms Malini nor Mr Tendulkar appear to be in need of money. And isn’t there a piece of legislation that says MPs cannot hold offices of double profit or is that adjusted to allow FMCG goods? But beyond the eye-sore and stupidity are three serious questions of propriety, conflict of interest and time devoted for constituencies. When the Prime Minister touched his forehead to the floor of the Parliament he said that it was a temple of democracy. First time MPs were invited to attend courses and seminars on policy making and the role of law makers, and several subjects. Would it be too difficult to tell Ms. Malini and Mr. Tendulkar to behave themselves according to the dignity of their respective offices?