Desist from politicising surgical strike, says Uddhav Thackeray

Mumbai: Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray has asked the BJP to stop politicising the surgical strike for its own benefit. While slamming the BJP for “celebrating the surgical strike”, Mr Thackeray said that the Modi government’s attempt to terrorise Pakistan through the strike had failed miserably an-d attacks on Indian soldiers continued unabated. Meanwhile, the Sena chief also appealed to party workers to gather in huge numbers at the forthcoming Dussehra rally.

“Two years ago, there was a surgical strike. The BJP used that for the Uttar Pradesh elections and won. But has it stopped attacks on soldiers? Has Pakistan learned a lesson? Has Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in Kashmir stopped?” Mr Thackeray questioned in an editorial in the party mouthpiece Saamana.

“Sandeep Singh, a soldier who had participated in the surgical strike was martyred a few days back in Kashmir. While we are planning to celebrate the second anniversary of the surgical strike, the attacks on soldiers have increased. At such a time, this is disrespect to the soldiers and their martyrdom,” the editorial read.

Mr Thackeray further alleged that to win the Lok Sabha elections, many such surgical strikes would be planned.

“You will have a few more surgical strikes. You might have a small-scale war with Pakistan. But in the end, that will be done with our soldiers’ blood,” the editorial said.

Sena leaders also met for preparations ahead of the Dussehra rally. “We want the next chief minister of Maharashtra to be from our party. For that, we need to show strength. We should get more than five lakh people at Shivtirth (Shivaji Park, Dadar) on Dussehra,” said Sena leader Anil Desai in the meeting.