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Shukla rebuts Thackeray on conferring Sachin Bharat Ratna

Last updated on: October 20, 2011 18:35 IST

Indian Premier League chairman Rajiv Shukla, on Thursday, took exception to Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray's opposition to conferring the Bharat Ratna to Sachin Tendulkar, saying the iconic cricketer deserves the country's highest civilian award.

"I am of firm opinion that Sachin should be bestowed the Bharat Ratna. Sachin should get Bharat Ratna," Shukla said.

"Thackeray had lowered the dignity and sanctity of God Satyanarayan by saying it's (Bharat Ratna) not the offerings of the God which could be distributed among all," he said.

He said, "By doing so he (Bal Thackeray) had disgraced the God also."

Thackeray, in his newspaper, Samana, had recently opposed conferring the Bharat Ratna to Tendulkar.

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