Nobody can object to Tendulkar's remark: BJP

In a veiled attack on its alliance partner Shiv Sena, BJP today supported cricketer Sachin Tendulkar's 'Mumbai for all' remark, saying nobody can object to his stand.

"Sachin is fully correct. I don't think anybody can have objection to it...India is proud of him and he is proud of being an Indian," senior BJP leader and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley told reporters here.

Jaitley, however, refused to respond to a question whether Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray has 'insulted' Tendulkar by accusing him of hurting Marathi sentiments. In an interaction with the media on completing 20 years in international cricket, Tendulkar had said "I am a Maharashtrian and I am extremely proud of that. But I am an Indian first. And Mumbai belongs to all Indians."

The Sena chief reacted sharply to Tendulkar's statement, saying "there was no need for him (Sachin) to take a cheeky single by making such remarks". Thackeray said in Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamana that Tendulkar "left the crease and moved to the pitch of politics by making these remarks which have hurt Marathis."