In reply to a journalist, Sachin Tendulkar stated that while he was proud to be a Maharashtrian, he was an Indian first and that Mumbai belonged to all of India.  There was nothing wrong in the answer but Bal Thackeray in his newspaper stated that Sachin should only play Cricket and not dabble in politics. However, when Azharuddin can play politics and become an MP, why Sachin cannot dabble in Politics? Then a Shiv Sena MP who is supposed to be the editor of this paper told Sachin that Mumbai came to Maharashtra because of the blood shed by Maharashtrians when Sachin was not even born and that Maharashtra is bigger than Sachin.  He also stated that Bal Thackeray is looking after 8 crore Maharashtrians and has provided employment to 17 lakh people.  This statement is 100% correct.  However, now my question to Mr. Bal Thackeray and Shiv Sena is whether Maharashtra is bigger than India or is it just a small part of India?  Bal Thackeray is looking after 8 crore Maharashtrians all of whom did not vote for him but if we go by that logic then Sonia Gandhi who is UPA Chairperson is looking after more than one hundred crore Indians and she has provided employment to crores of people.  I am not supporting Sonia Gandhi but simply going by the logic of Mr. Bal Thackeray and Shiv Sena.  It is now for all Indians, including Maharashtrians  to decide whether Maharashtra is bigger than India or India is bigger than Maharashtra. Let this be decided for all times to come.  Central Govt. must clarify in this regard. If India is bigger than Maharashtra and Maharashtra is just a part of India then Mumbai belongs to all Indians.

 

Satbir Singh Bedi