Uddhav supports Sachin over issue of toll

Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray today backed cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar over his stand on toll and said he was only voicing sentiments of people, who want the state to be free of the road levy.
The Sena chief also said appealed for not creating a controversy over Tendulkar writing a letter to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis over the toll issue.
"Bharat Ratna Sachin Tendulkar's demands to the state government regarding toll booths cannot be made into a controversy. In the past, Shiv Sena has also agitated for the closure of toll nakas. Sachin has only communicated the sentiment's of people to the Chief Minister. People of Maharashtra want the state to be toll-free," Thackeray told reporters here.

Tendulkar, who is a Rajya Sabha member, had said in a letter to Fadnavis that he was "deeply concerned about the present state of affairs concerning the operation of toll gates around the city of Mumbai" and would "sincerely request you to kindly reconsider the model of operation to reduce the physical and mental toll on citizens who travel in and out of the city".
However, earlier today senior Sena leader and state transport minister Diwakar Raote said the former cricketer should speak out for the drought-affected farmers as well.
"I welcome his stand on the toll plazas in the state. But while he is speaking for people being affected due to road toll, he should look into the issues of farmers as well. Farmers in Marathwada and Vidarbha are committing suicide due to drought. That issue cannot be ignored," he told reporters.

However,later in the evening, Raote, claimed in a statement that TV channels misquoted him on the issue. "After seeing the way my remarks were shown on TV channels many got annoyed and contacted me expressing their displeasure.
"Toll-free Maharashtra and farmers' problems are two issues on which Sena is emphatic. I am sure that the stance taken by Sachin on Mumbai issues will be of help. If anyone's feelings have been hurt, I am tendering apology," he said adding, "If Sachin's feelings have been hurt, I apologise to him as well."
With the batting maestro's letter finding echo in the House, Fadnavis said in the Legislative Council today that his government had taken note of Tendulkar's letter and it would find a way through all the legal issues to bring an end to toll plazas.