Bal Thackeray would've hugged PM after Op Sindoor, Shah slams Shiv Sena leader's remarks

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday lashed out at Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), saying its leader had mocked the all-party delegations to various nations to brief about the Operation Sindoor offensive by calling it a 'baraat'. However, if Balasaheb Thackeray had been alive, he would have hugged Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his efforts.

Balasaheb Thackeray was the founder of the undivided Shiv Sena. The Home Minister was reacting to Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut's comment last week on the government sending several all-party delegations to different parts of the world, to communicate India's position vis-a-vis Pakistan on terrorism and the the circumstances which led to the launch of Operation Sindoor offensive.

Terming the delegations as a “baraat,” Raut had questioned the utility and intent of dispatching MPs to world capitals to brief them on India’s military response to Pakistan. “There was no need to send this baraat. The Prime Minister is weak,” Raut had said, taking aim at what he called unnecessary political showmanship.

He had singled out the inclusion of Shrikant Shinde, son of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, asking what such members would contribute to India’s strategic communication efforts.

Shah further said in the rally that after Operation Sindoor, the prime minister took the decision of sending all-party delegations to different countries to expose the nefarious designs of Pakistan and it was after this that the delegations were formed.

He added that the success of Operation Sindoor has sent the message to not just Pakistan but also the world that no one can mess with India’s armed forces, its people and borders.

Incidentally, Uddhav Thackeray has not commented at all on the Centre's decision to send all-party delegations to various parts of the world and also did not object to the Central Government's decision to include his party's Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi as part of these delegations.