The Shiv Sena’s latest attempt to raise the pitch on the Mumbai-for-Maharashtrians issue boomeranged today with chief Bal Thackeray drawing flak from across the nation for criticising Sachin Tendulkar over his remarks that Mumbai belonged to all Indians.

In an open letter addressed to the cricket icon in the Sena mouthpiece Saamna,Thackeray slammed Tendulkar for saying that Mumbai could not be monopolised and that all Indians had an equal right over it. Criticising Tendulkar for “hurting Marathi sentiments”, Thackeray advised him to stick to cricket and not venture into politics through his statements.

“Sachin, the Marathi mind has shattered after hearing this. Was there any need? Was it necessary to say this when everyone is poised to grab Mumbai? Why did you take this ‘cheeky-single’ while talking about your Marathi pride? Here you are ‘run out’ on the pitch of Marathi Manoos,” Thackeray wrote.

“Mumbai may be the economic capital of the country, but don’t forget that it is the capital of Maharashtra first... Sachin, remember, when you strike fours and sixes people applaud, but if your tongue continues to bat against the ‘nyaya hakk’ (justice and rights) of Marathi Manoos, then the Marathi Manoos would never tolerate it. Hence, I want to give you an affectionate warning for the moment that don’t lose on the political pitch whatever you have earned on the cricket pitch.”

Thackeray’s comments came at a time when the Sena and his estranged nephew Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) are engaged in a game of one-upmanship to woo Maharashtrians. While the criticism of Tendulkar seemed to be aimed at cornering the MNS, it backfired on the Sena as it invited condemnation from across the country.

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