Sunny, not Sachin, a true Maharashtrian: Shiv Sena

MUMBAI: In a tactical move, the Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamna once again hit out at cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar in its Sunday edition, claiming that Sachin plays only for the Indian cricket board and not for Maharashtra.

Smarting under all-round condemnation from political parties of all hues for its attack on the media, the Shiv Sena’s renewed dig at Sachin is seen as an attempt to divert attention from its assault on news channel IBN-Lokmat staffers on Friday.

While lambasting Sachin, Sena MP and Saamna editor Sanjay Raut hailed Sunil Gavaskar, another great cricketer, as a ‘‘ true Maharashtrian’ ’ who had helped many sons of the soil make it to the national team. Sachin, said Raut, had not supported any Maharashtrian cricketer , not even best friend Vinod Kambli.

‘‘ Sachin is not greater than Maharashtra . He may be a great cricketer, but his runs and shots belong to the cricket board’s record book. They do very little to enhance Maharashtra’s pride,’’ said the article.

Maharashtra did not get Mumbai because of Sachin’s 17,000 runs and Mumbai’s Maharashtrian character has not been retained because of Sachin’s fours and sixers, the editorial stated. The Sena emphasized that for the party, the sacrifice of martyrs during the Samyukta Maharashtra movement is more important than the runs scored by Sachin.