In a rare gesture, the Maharashtra assembly yesterday recommended to the Centre that the Bharat Ratna, the country's highest civilian award, be conferred on Sachin Tendulkar.

A motion recommending the Bharat Ratna and congratulating the Indian Team for winning the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, moved by Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan was supported and adopted by all political parties.

"We recommend that Sachin Tendulkar be conferred with the Bharat Ratna for his contribution to sports,"

Chavan said while moving the motion.

Chavan also reiterated that the state government would reward the two cricketers from Maharashtra in Team India, Sachin Tendulkar and Zaheer Khan, with a cash prize of Rs one crore each and a citation.

Besides, the two members from the state in the team's support staff - masseur Ramesh Mane and logistics manager Mayank Parekh - would be rewarded with Rs 50 lakh each.

The dream of 1.2 billion Indians had been achieved after a gap of nearly 28 years, Chavan said.

Leader of Opposition Eknath Khadse of BJP described Sachin as the "god of cricket".

"It is the outcome of 21 years of struggle and Sachin is a team player despite criticism that he only pursued individual records," Khadse said.