Sachin has climbed "yet another Mt Everest" of cricket: Prez

President Pratibha Patil and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today led the nation in saluting Sachin Tendulkar for scoring the first double century in ODIs, saying the "master batsman" has climbed yet another "Mt Everest of the game".

President Pratibha Patil and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today led the nation in saluting Sachin Tendulkar for scoring the first double century in ODIs, saying the "master batsman" has climbed yet another "Mt Everest of the game".

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As congratulatory messages poured in for Tendulkar(37), Political parties across the spectrum hailed the cricketer and said the maestro has made "every Indian proud."

Terming the record as a "magnificent achievement", Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Tendulkar has led by "example and that all Indians are proud of his achievement".

In a message, Patil said, "Sachin Tendulkar has yet again re-written the record books of cricket, by climbing yet another Mt Everest of the game."

The master batsman has set "stiff targets" for future generation of cricketers to break, she said.

BJP president Nitin Gadkari said Tendulkar has made every Indian proud. "Tendulkar has always played a good innings when required and has been a source of inspiration to the young people of the country," he said.

In Tendulkar's home state of Maharashtra, political parties hailed his achievement.

"I don't have words to express my admiration for Sachin," MNS president Raj Thackeray said.

"I stop all my work and watch TV when Sachin is playing. His knock today was simply brilliant," senior BJP leader Gopinath Munde said.

Union heavy Industries Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh describing Tendulkar's knock as historic and said "Sachin's honour is Maharashtra's honour."

Bollywood actor Nana Patekar said watching Sachin's batting is always a thrilling experience and was more so today. "He is brilliant.... Everyone knows that," he said.

Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray, an avid cricket lover, was not available for comment. Tendulkar was the target of the Sena chief's tirade recently over his `Mumbai for all Indians' remark.