Thackeray's bouncer boomerangs as India stands by Tendulkar

Nov. 16: Objecting to Sachin Tendulkar’s recent comment that “Mumbai belongs to all Indians”, Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray on Monday advised the cricketer in an article in the party’s mouthpiece to concentrate on his “international pitch”.

The Shiv Sena chief’s remarks prompted angry repudiations and criticism from leaders cutting across party lines, from the BCCI, as well as from ordinary Indians across the country.

Even its ally, the BJP, distanced itself from Mr Thackeray’s article, with Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha and BJP leader Arun Jaitley saying there was nothing wrong with what the master batsman had said.

Mr Thackeray wrote an open letter to Tendulkar through his party’s mouthpiece, Saamna, advising him to avoid making political statements. “In the press conference, you said, ‘I am a Maharashtrian and I am extremely proud of it. But first I am an Indian’."

The first part of your statement moved Marathi souls. But, almost immediately, you played a straight drive that hurt Marathi sentiments that were enthused by your first declaration because you left your home pitch and ventured on to the political pitch saying ‘Mumbai is not monopoly of anyone, all Indians have equal right on Mumbai.’ Sachin, your statement tore apart Marathi minds (sic),” Mr Thackeray wrote.

Political leaders, cutting across party lines, attacked Mr Thackeray for criticising Sachin, saying the cricket maestro’s “Mumbai for all” remark was just, right and nobody could take objection to it.

The BCCI also reacted angrily with its spokesman, Rajiv Shukla, demanding that Mr Thackeray be brought to book for his verbal attack.

The CMs of Maharashtra and Bihar, Ashok Chavan and Nitish Kumar, Union ministers Salman Khurshid and RJD leader Lalu Prasad Yadav said they congratulated Tendulkar, a Maharashtrian and the pride of India, and that he had stated what was “just right” as Mumbai belongs to all Indians.

While Chavan said Tendulkar’s comment would help unite the country, Mr Nitish Kumar said Tendulkar’s remark had earned him greater respect.

Mr Lalu Prasad said, “It is Thackeray’s habit to make such remarks... Sachin is a very good man and what he has stated is right.”

Mr Khurshid said the cricketer had “clean bowled” Mr Thackeray. “The real place of Bal Thackeray’s statement is in the dustbin. The Congress condemns his reaction in the strongest terms,” Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari said on Monday. He added: “Those political parties that base their politics on narrow issues of caste and religion insult India’s unity and integrity. They assault the very idea of India. Their language, style and thinking are old, which the people of India have repudiated and rejected.”

The Sena chief also attributed Tendulkar’s statement to his ignorance about the sacrifice of the Marathi people to include the city in Maharashtra. He wrote, “You were not even born when the people of Maharashtra got Mumbai. Cannibal Murderji Morarji Desai (sic) had created havoc on Mumbai’s streets. Around 105 Marathi people sacrificed their lives so that Mumbai cannot belong to fathers of outsiders.”

“Mumbai might be the financial capital of the country, but don’t forget that it is first the capital of Maharashtra,” Mr Thackeray wrote to Tendulkar, adding, “If you are going to use your tongue like a bat to hit fours and sixes that will encroach upon the rights of Marathi people, they will never tolerate that. Therefore, at the moment I am giving you advice for your benefit — don’t squander everything that you earned on the cricket pitch, on the political pitch.”

Mr Thackeray’s criticism of Tendulkar did not end with the open letter. There was also an editorial criticising Sachin’s comment. The editorial advised Tendulkar not to forget that his origins lie in Mumbai.

“Had Sachin’s luck not shined on the cricket ground, he would have come to the Shiv Sena shakha in Bandra to talk about the injustice meted out to him. And because of his Marathi surname ‘Tendulkar’, some Shiv Sainik would have slapped some ‘yundu-gundu’ or ‘Singh-Chaube’ in his face,” says the editorial.

Meanwhile, though many from all over the country condemned Mr Thackeray’s criticism of Tendulkar’s statement, the Shiv Sena stood firm on their chief’s stand. Shiv Sena leader Subhash Desai said Mr Thackeray is the authority to speak on Mumbai, as Tendulkar is the authority to speak on cricket.

Justifying Mr Thackeray’s writings, Mr Desai said no unparliamentary or intimidating language had been used against Tendulkar.