Prominent leaders from Maharashtra today congratulated cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar on being chosen for the prestigious Bharat Ratna award.
In a congratulatory message, Governor
K Sankaranarayanan said, "By deciding to confer India's highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna, on the legendary cricketer, the Government of India has fulfilled the dream of countless admirers of Sachin Tendulkar and his game of cricket.
"There could not have been a more appropriate timing to declare the award than this day when his illustrious Test match career ended on a high note with the win against the West Indies," he said.
"I congratulate Shri Tendulkar for this well-deserved honour and I do hope that he will continue to provide guidance to Indian cricket and budding cricketers from the country in the years to come. I also congratulate Prof C N R Rao who too has been named for the Bharat Ratna Award," the governor said.
Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan said youths all over would get inspiration due to the top honour bestowed on Sachin. Chavan described Sachin as the "greatest sportsperson but also a great human being".
Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said, "In his 24-year career, Sachin made people forget their sorrows and created a feeling of unity among the countrymen."
Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray also congratulated Tendulkar for the honour.
