Talking Point: Sena Vs Sachin, the national icon

SENA'S ATTACK: Tendulkar came under attack for saying that he was an Indian first and then a Marathi.

    

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The Shiv Sena's almost unprecendented targetting of none other cricketing genius Sachin Tendulkar. The question that was being asked on CNN-IBN's Talking Point was: Sachin Vs the Sena: Has the Sena lost the plot? To try and answer the question on the panel of experts was senior journalist Anil Dharkar; senior sports journalist Ayaz Menon and Shiv Sena Spokesperson Rahul Narvekar.

CNN-IBN: Sachin Tendulkar says he has a proud Maharashtrian but an Indian first, and that Mumbai belongs to everyone. What is so objectionable about what he has said?

Rahul Narvekar: Well, in so far as this issue is concerned, our party supremo, honourable Balasaheb Thackeray, has already expressed his views on it. Once the views of Balasaheb Thackeray have been placed on an issue, there is no question of anyone commenting further on the matter. And a clear reading of that article will throw light on that issue and there will be nothing more which needs to be answered by anyone else once Balasaheb has already expressed his views his on it.

CNN-IBN: You have asked Sachin to play cricket, not get into the Marathi mindspace. Aren't you effectively insulting someone who is universally regarded as the greatest Maharashtrian icon we have today?

Rahul Narvekar: I don't think there is an element of insult involved in this issue. We have the highest respect and regard for Sachin, that has also been expressed in today's article. And a clear reading of that article by any person will make it absolutely clear what the issue is and I think a clear reading will solve this issue.

CNN-IBN: But you are not answering as to what is so objectionable that Sachin has said.

Rahul Narvekar: According to me, from the reading of that article there is absolutely no issue, there is nothing objectionable. Honourable Balasaheb Thackeray has placed his views before everyone, and we totally subscribe to those views.

CNN-IBN: The Shiv Sena seems to be going on the defensive. The fact is that across the country and in Mumbai, most people seem to be isolating Bal Thackeray on this issue. Do you believe the Shiv Sena has bitten off more than it can chew by taking on Sachin Tendulkar?

Anil Dharkar: I think the Shiv Sena has lost the plot. After the MNS came into prominence, there was some kind of desperation on the part of the Sena. What the Sena regarded as its teritory of guarding the rights of the Marathi manoos was suddenly usurped by the MNS. So there is an element of desperation which has crept in and the fact that the MNS did not take up this issue but the Sena did suggests to me that the MNS at least knows that Tendulkar is such a huge icon in Maharashtra that he cannot be attacked. And the Sena has attacked him in complete desperation, that's all.

CNN-IBN: But isn't this entirely political, a fallout of the Shiv Sena-MNS fight? You want to be one up on the MNS, but are ending up only embarrassing yourself by choosing the wrong person to target. Sachin Tendulkar is not Abu Azmi.

Rahul Narvekar: No, no. I think this is your view. But there is nothing political about this. We have praised Sachin in the past, we still hold him in very high regard. There are certain things which we found objectionable and as a political party as we have expressed our views on them. There is absolutely no question of making it a political issue.

CNN-IBN: Sachin Tendulkar is a cricketer, he's far away from politics and to see him attacked like this has really got everyone's hackles up. But is he getting that sympathy today only because he is a sportsperson?

Ayaz Menon: No, I think he is more than just a sportsman, I think he is such a huge role model for India and I think that it is interesting that Sachin at this juncture of his life has come up with this kind of a statement, sentiment. And I think this has rattled the Shiv Sena which is currently looking for brownie points vis-a-vis the MNS. Sachin Tendulkar has never shied away from the fact that he is a Marathi manoos but at least I think he has got his priorities right. All Marathis are also Indians first. What's the big deal? I think that he has put the matter in perspective.

CNN-IBN: Over 20 years, Sachin Tendulkar has never raised any issue which would even remotely be construed as political. Do you think he was trying to send out a political signal to the MNS or the Shiv Sena when he responded to that question at the press conference?

Ayaz Menon: I think he was not trying to raise any political issue. I think he was just stating his state of mind. And this is a view which is subscribed to by millions and billions of Indians, so I think maybe it has just kind of been blown up because Sachin has said it, but what is the big deal? That's what I am trying to understand. What is the meaning of the Shiv Sena editorial? We are all Indians first and whatever else after that.

CNN-IBN: This is not the first time that the Shiv Sena has attacked a great Maharashtrian. The Sena has taken on P L Deshpande and Vijay Tendulkar in the past. What kind of Maharashtrian asmita does the Sena stand for if it attacks its own Maharashtrian icons?

Rahul Narvekar: All I would say on this is I totally subscribe to my party leader's views and so does my party. And we find nothing objectionable. At every point of time whenever criticism was done with regard to any particular individual, it was done with due merit, and we totally subscribe to what Balasaheb has said.

CNN-IBN: Do you concede that the Shiv Sena does not have the right to speak for all Maharashtrians and to that extent you have no right to tell Sachin Tendulkar what he should say?