New Delhi, Nov 17 : More and more support is pouring in for Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar after Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray slammed him for his "I am an Indian first" comment.

Even Shiv Sena''s ally, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), supported Tendulkar. "Well, Sachin has said that he is a proud Maharashtrian and a proud Indian, I think the statement is absolutely correct. I don''t think anybody can have any objection to that. He is proud to be an Indian and the whole country is proud of him," said BJP leader Arun Jaitley.

The Congress party also lashed out at Thackeray, terming the editorial comment as parochial in nature.

"Political parties who raise narrow identity based issues in order to... their political ambitions, insult the unity, the diversity and the pluralism of India. They assault the very idea of India," said Congress spokesman Manish Tiwari.

Former cricketer Kiran More who is also hailing from the state said: "It''s very sad that Shiv Sena are involving Sachin in politics. He never meant it that way. I think we should respect Sachin, he has done so much for our country."

Replying to a question at a press meet on the eve of completing 20 years in international cricket, Sachin had said, Mumbai belongs to India. I am a Maharashtrian and am extremely proud to proud of that, but I am an Indian first. (ANI)