Modi govt reaches out to Uddhav Thackeray ahead of all-party delegations' visit to different nations

Mumbai: Ahead of all-party delegations' departure to present India's position on terrorism and Operation Sindoor, the Centre reached out to former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. However, the Shiv Sena (UBT) said that it will continue to raise questions related to intelligence "failure" in regard to Pahalgam incident and the diplomatic situation with Pakistan.

The development comes at a time when Thackeray’s aide and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief spokesperson Sanjay Raut continued to target Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the issue.

Earlier, the Centre had nominated Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha member Priyanka Chaturvedi to be part of the delegation.

In this backdrop, on Monday evening, Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Minister of Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju spoke to Thackeray over phone.

During the call, Thackeray also conveyed the demand of Shiv Sena (UBT) for an all-party meeting chaired by the Prime Minister to discuss the Pahalgam massacre and Operation Sindoor.

“This delegation is about India against terrorism, not politics and on being reassured this, we have also assured the government that we will do what is right and needed for our country via this delegation,” the Shiv Sena (UBT) posted on X on Tuesday.

“Right after the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, all political parties have expressed support to the Prime Minister in the fight against terrorism, especially Pak-based terrorism and to destroy their infrastructure and bases. We all are united in the armed forces acting against terrorism, there must be no two ways about it,” the party said.

However, the Thackeray-led party made it clear that it does have independent opinions about the diplomatic situation and the "failed" intelligence/security apparatus on Pahalgam, and it will keep asking questions in the "best interest of our nation". “However, we must rally globally to expose Pakistan-based terrorism, in order to isolate and destroy it,” it said.

“We have also communicated to the Union government that while we are united in this cause, a protocol of better informing the parties could be followed about these delegations, to avoid chaos and mismanagement. That happened yesterday, through the call, and we have reaffirmed our support to any such action of national interest,” the party said.