Well, it had to happen, how could there not have been a retaliatory comment when the living legend Sachin Tendulkar said that he was proud to be a Maharashtrian and though a loyal Maharashtrian was a Patriotic Indian first. It was but obvious that Shiv Sena would not take his comment lying down.

There was an immediate reaction from Bal Thakarey, who said that this comment of Sachin would hurt the sentiments of Maharashtrian manoos. In fact he tersely advised Sachin to focus on Cricket and should never indulge in politics because it seems Maharashtra versus rest of India is a political issue now.

Bal Thakerey reminded Sachin that as a Maharashtrian he had run out of Marathi pitch and that Marathis had shed blood for Mumbai when Sachin was not even born.

Poor Sachin he is such a non controversial person and never enters any debate no matter how hard he is provoked and now he is being pulled in a vortex of Mumbai Politics which he never intended to be in.
There is still one more reaction which is bound to come.I think the living icons like Sachin do not belong to any state but are pride of whole country.

All the Best, Sachin.