MUMBAI: After equating Narendra Modi with Mughal lieutenant Afzal Khan, the Shiv Sena on Wednesday advised the Prime Minister to focus on Pakistan’s atrocities along the Line of Control(LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir instead of the election campaign in Maharashtra.
An editorial in the Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamna took a jibe at Modi, referring to his famous “56-inch chest” remark. “One does not need a 56-inch chest to protect the interests of the nation but strong will power,” it said. Modi had said during the campaign for the Lok Sabha elections that a 56-inch chest was a pre-requisite to ensure massive development in Uttar Pradesh to bring it at par with Gujarat.
The editorial alleged that Modi was undermining the national security for the sake of politics. “Keeping Modi busy in election rallies across the state, while he is most needed at the Centre, is like undermining the national security.”
“Pakistan has been emboldened by the government’s failure to take firm steps against the cross-border firing and shelling.
We can talk about the politics of Maharashtra later as well Modiji.
But for now, it is most important that we do not bear the atrocities committed by our neighbour,” it said.
It added that that it was a pity that Indian villagers in the border areas had to take shelter in safer places to protect themselves from the onslaught of Pakistan Rangers.
“It is not only our people, whose life is threatened by the Pakistanis, even their homes are being destroyed by the Pakistani onslaught. Houses as far as four km away from the border have been badly damaged by the continuous firing.
“Our citizens are now running away from their homes to escape death that may catch up with them in the darkness of the night,” the editorial said.
The Shiv Sena has been consistently targeting Modi since the BJP snapped their 25-year-long ties in Maharashtra.
Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray had earlier asked why the PM needed to address 23 rallies in the state if there was a Modi wave in Maharashtra.
He had also sarcastically wondered aloud whether Modi was planning to become Maharashtra’s Chief Minister.
On the other hand, Modi has vowed not to utter a single word against the Sena as a mark of respect for its founder, the late Bal Thackeray.