'War not the answer': Raj Thackeray slams Modi govt on Op Sindoor
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Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray has strongly criticised the Indian government’s recent Operation Sindoor, questioning its purpose and effectiveness, urging that instead of resorting to war, the focus should be on identifying and apprehending the perpetrators of terrorism. Speaking on Wednesday, Thackeray emphasized that priority must be given to domestic operations to dismantle terrorist networks, rather than escalating tensions through military action.
On the day that Indian armed forces conducted missile strikes on terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), including key bases of Jaish-e-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Taiba, Thackeray voiced concerns over the government's handling of the situation. He criticized the failure to find the terrorists behind the Pahalgam attack, where four terrorists killed 26 civilians. Thackeray questioned why there was no security in Pahalgam, a popular tourist destination, and emphasized that the priority should be domestic operations to capture the attackers.
Drawing parallels with the US response to 9/11, Thackeray said, "In the US, they killed the terrorists responsible for the attacks on the Twin Towers and Pentagon, but they didn't wage war." He urged the government to focus on identifying the terrorists and dismantling their networks rather than focusing on air strikes or creating war-like situations.
Thackeray also criticized the government's planned civil defence mock drill, suggesting that instead of simulating a crisis, a nationwide combing operation should be conducted to track down terrorists and address the growing drug menace. He added that the government’s display of strength through mock drills and sirens was misdirected, given the need for real action against terror networks.
The MNS leader took issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's response in the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack, accusing him of prioritizing political campaigns over addressing national security concerns. Thackeray pointed out that the prime minister, who was in Saudi Arabia when the attack occurred, returned early but still went on with campaigning activities in Bihar, Kerala, and Mumbai. He argued that Modi's itinerary could have been adjusted if the situation were truly dire.
Thackeray concluded that the country needs a solution that goes beyond symbolic gestures, urging the government to focus on real, substantive actions, such as identifying and apprehending terrorists and addressing the spreading drug problem in the country.
With PTI inputs