A host of political leaders, cutting across party lines, today came down heavily on Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray for criticising Sachin Tendulkar.
A host of political leaders, cutting across party lines, today came down heavily on Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray for criticising Sachin Tendulkar, saying the cricket maestro's "Mumbai for all" remark was just right and nobody could take objection to it.
The Indian cricket board also reacted angrily to the Sena supremo's comments in the party mouthpiece 'Saamna' with its spokesman Rajiv Shulka demanding that Thackeray should be brought to book for his verbal attack on the 36-year-old.
Thackeray said that Tendulkar had, through his remark, had "left the crease and moved to the pitch of politics" and this had hurt the Marathi psyche. Earlier, 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."
Chief ministers of Maharashtra and Bihar, Ashok Chavan and Nitish Kumar, Union Ministers Salman Khurshid and RJD leader Lalu Prasad, said they congratulated Tendulkar, a Maharashtrian and a pride of India, and that he had stated what was "just right" as Mumbai belongs to all Indians.
While Chavan said that Tendulkar's comment would help unite the entire country, the Bihar chief minister maintained that the revered cricketer had in fact earned more respect through his remark.
Prasad, a cricket enthusiast and former Union Minister, said, "It is Thackeray's habit to make such remarks....Sachin is a very good man and what he has stated is right".
Khurshid, Union minority affairs minister and a Congressman, taking a jibe at the Shiv Sena leader, said the cricketer has clean bowled Thackeray.
"Sachin has got Bal Thackeray out. Now, he (Thackeray) may cry as much as he wants after the fall of the wicket, but it is true that he has got out," Khurshid said.
CPI (M) Politburo member Brinda Karat said, "Sachin as as a citizen has the right to make comments on anything and if he believes that Bombay belongs to whole of India, he will find that not only the whole of India but a very large majority of the people in Mumbai believe that Mumbai belongs to the whole of India."
In his Tweet, Minister of state for external affairs Shashi Tharoor said, "My late father Chandran Tharoor had said in 1966 that with Maharashtra for Maharashtrians and Kashmir for Kashmiris, where is India for Indians."
BCCI member Shukla said, "This is the same language that Mohammed Ali Jinnah spoke. The whole of India and all Maharashtrians, excluding a few Shiv Sena leaders and leaders of Raj hackeray's party, are with Tendulkar."
"These kind of comments are completely uncalled for. Shiv Sena people have no business to talk like this. Tendulkar is a nationalist. He is for Maharashtra, he is for India. If somebody calls himself an Indian, is it a crime?" he retorted.
Chavan, who is heading the Congress-NCP Government in Maharashtra, said, "The master blaster spoke from the bottom of his heart. Sachin's statement has been made in true sportsman spirit. Though he is a Maharashtrian, he plays for the country. This (the remark) will unite the entire country."
Nitish Kumar said, "He has been revered as a cricketer. Now, he will be respected as a good human and a good citizen."
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}