Zeecric Bureau
Mumbai: Legendary batsman Sachin Tendulkar, who on Sunday completed 20 glorious years in international cricket, has become the latest target of the pro-
Marathi Manoos brigade.
Sachin, who had few days back stated that Mumbai was a part of India and that every Indian has an equal right on the city, has been criticised by none other than Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray.
In a letter addressed to the cricketing legend and published in Shiv Sena mouthpiece
Saamna, Thackeray said that the Sachin comments have hurt the
Marathi Manoos.
While appreciating Sachin’s remarks that he was equally a Marathi and an Indian, Thackeray made it clear in the published letter that he did not like Sachin calling Mumbai a city on which every Indian had an equal right.
Thackeray even advised Sachin to concentrate on his game and not get involved in politics.
Speaking at a media conference a few days ago, Sachin had said that his 20 successful years in the game of cricket have mainly been possible because of the love he has for his country.
The most famous Mumbaikar had also opined; though he was a proud Maharashtrian, it was important to acknowledge the fact that the state is a part of India, and more than anything else, he is an Indian first.
An irate Thackeray described Sachin’s remarks as absolutely unnecessary and asked him to instead focus on the pitch. He further advised Sachin not to treat the
Marathi Manoos issue as a pitch and hit fours and sixes on it. Shiv Sena won’t tolerate this, Thackeray wrote, adding Sachin should not lose the respect that he has earned over the years, on the political pitch.
"There was no need for him to take a cheeky single by
making such remarks," Thackeray said
"By making these remarks, you have got run-out on the
pitch of Marathi psyche. You were not even born when the
'Marathi Manoos' got Mumbai and 105 Marathi people sacrificed
their lives to get Mumbai," he added.
To this, BCCI Spokesperson Rajiv Shukla said in New Delhi,
"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 Thackeray'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.
"No Marathi will support Shiv Sena if they talk in these
terms. Tendulkar has spoken like an Indian, like a
nationalist. They don't understand this. In order to get some
votes, they are trying to provoke feelings. These people
should be brought to book," Shukla added.
"Maharashtrians don't like such utterances. Only a
handful of people will support this. Majority of them won't
like this. They want to be called Indians first.
"Whole of India and all Maharashtrians, excluding a few
Shiv Sena leaders and leaders of Raj Thackeray's party, are
with Tendulkar," he added.