Prithviraj Chavan wants Bharat Ratna for Tendulkar

Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan on Tuesday recommended to the Centre that cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar be conferred ?Bharat Ratna?, India?s highest civilian award.

“We recommend that Tendulkar be conferred with the Bharat Ratna for his contribution to sports,” Chavan said while moving a motion in the state Assembly.

The motion was supported by all parties.

Chavan also announced the Maharashtra government will present Rs 1 crore and a citation to the World Cup winners from the state-Tendulkar and Zaheer Khan. Two members of the team’s support staff from Maharashtra-Mayank Parekh (logistics manager) and Ramesh Mane (masseur) will be honoured with Rs 50 lakh each.

Meanwhile, as the dust settles on India?s triumph in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, batting legend Sachin Tendulkar has described the victory as the best moment of his long and illustrious career.

The 37-year-old has spent more than two decades playing at the highest level and he had previously played in five ICC Cricket World Cups, all ultimately ending in disappointment. He says he never gave up hope.