Pranab Mukherjee congratulates Indian team

Union finance minister Pranab Mukherjee today congratulated the Indian cricket team for their victory in the World Cup yesterday and even praised the Sri Lankans for displaying "exemplary sportsmanship" during the match.

"Both the teams did exceedingly well. My congratulation to the Indian team. My congratulation equally to Sri Lankan team who fought bravely and everyone displayed exemplary sportsmanship which should be emulated in other spheres," Mukherjee told reporters.

On Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee's request to the Centre to declare a national holiday early next week to mark the victory, he said, "She has told me. I have forwarded it to New Delhi. Let's see what the Prime Minister does."

"As far as cricket is concerned, I am not a good player but I feel proud. It's a special feeling. I do not know whether it has strange coincidence. In 1983 when India won World Cup under the captaincy of Kapil Dev I was the (union) finance minister. Today also I am the finance minister. Of course I am not bringing any coincidence with it which is accidental," Mukherjee said.