Sachin's nomination by Cong is real 'Dirty Picture': Thackeray

MUMBAI: Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray today took a swipe at the Congress over the nomination of cricketer Sachin Tendulkar to the Rajya Sabha, saying the real "Diry Picture" is this action of the party.

"It is Congress's dirtiest play...the real Dirty Picture is this", Thackeray said talking to reporters after he was conferred with a lifetime achievement award by Raipur-based magazine `Cartoon Watch' at a function here.

Reacting to Thackeray's barbs, Congress questioned Sena's own motives in sending industrialist Rajkumar Dhoot to the Upper House some years ago.

"If Thackeray says nominating Sachin to Rajya Sabha is like `Dirty Picture', then was nominating Dhoot a case of `Apna Sapna Money Money?" MPCC spokesperson Sachin Sawant said.

Yesterday, in the editorial in Sena mouthpiece Saamana, Thackeray had said that Congress alleged must be having an ulterior motive in nominating Sachin to the House of Elders.

"Crores of Sachin's fans would have liked to call him `Bharat Ratna Sachin Tendulkar'. Alas, he would now only be Sachin Tendulkar, MP", the editorial said.

The Sena chief, however, added that he was proud of Tendulkar.

"I feel proud of Sachin. Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan, Hema Malini, (too), went to the Rajya Sabha. But before going there, one should know whether he has a scope there", he said.

Asked how would he draw Sachin's cartoon, Thackeray, who ran a cartoon magazine before founding Shiv Sena, said in some cases "a mere photograph is enough" and there is no need to draw a cartoon.

Sawant also criticised Thackeray's remark about Rahul Gandhi after the Sena supremo said the AICC General Secretary was a novice who wanted to become the Prime Minister.

"The Shiv Sena chief should first look at the 'achievements' of his son (Uddhav Thackeray)," Sawant said. c