Let this be beginning of surgical strikes, not the end: Uddhav Thackeray

Praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the surgical strikes, Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray today said India has the capability to conduct more such strikes and should regain control of the PoK.

The Sena chief, however, took a dim view of Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar's remark crediting the "RSS teachings" for the decision to conduct the surgical strike.

"We should praise Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the surgical strikes. But this should not be the last one but beginning of (more) such strikes against Pakistan," Uddhav said while addressing Sena workers here.

He said India has a capability to strike against Pakistan and should start by regaining control of Pakistan-occupied -Kashmir (PoK).

"The identity of Pakistan should be Hindustan soon. The way Indira Gandhi had carried out army operation creating Bangladesh, India should also have such operation against Pakistan," the Sena chief said.

Referring to series of statements made by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar after the surgical strikes, he said, "War should be for the nation, not for election."

"I have complete respect for RSS. RSS has been working for Hindutva. But kindly don't denounce the contribution of our brave soldiers who were involved in surgical strikes," he said, alluding to Parrikar's remarks where he credited his and PM's "RSS teachings" behind decision to conduct surgical strikes.

Taking a dig at Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi and AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal, he said those who claim that surgical strikes never happened, should be sent out of the country.

"When a senior official of Armed forces announces that the surgical strikes have happened, no one has a right to question him. By doing so, we are showing distrust in Indian soldiers," he said.

The Sena chief, who was in the coastal state to galvanise the party ahead of the state Assembly polls, also took a jibe at Modi over his statement at BRICS summit that one "old friend is better than two new ones".

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi during recently-held BRICS summit made a statement that one old friend is better than two new ones. We have a saying that it is better to have honest enemy compared to cunning friend," Thackeray said, alluding to strains in ties with his party and the BJP despite being long-time partners.

"An old friend better than two new friends", Modi had said after his meeting with Russia President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit. Uddhav said while scouting for old friends abroad, the PM should look into what they have done with the old friends within the country.

"Looking at what they have done to old friends within the country, the old friends abroad will think twice before having ties with him," the Sena Chief said. He also took a skeptical view of the outcome of the BRICS Summit held in Goa saying he did not know what the country gained from it.

"I saw heads of several states wearing jackets and joining hands during BRICS. I don't want to criticise the event for the sake of opposing it. I feel that such kind of events should be held in India."

"But what did Goa gain from BRICS? What's India's gain from the BRICS? I don't know," he added.

He said Sena is in alliance with BJP in Maharashtra government but despite being in power, we are keeping control over the government in absence of a "good" Opposition in the Assembly.

Talking about Goa, he claimed that Sena will also expose the BJP government in Goa during the run-up to the polls.

"I was given a list of failures of the BJP-led government in Goa. I am not touching that list now. During the polls, we will expose them one by one," Uddhav added.