Centre serious about combating terrorism, not swayed by MNS rant: BJP

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday said the Raj Thackeray ked- Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) has no business issuing a 48 hour deadline to Pakistan actors to leave India.

BJP leader Shaina NC said that "Let's distinguish between a priority and sentiment. There is a sentiment which is anti-Pakistan, where lots of people do not want Pakistanis at this juncture to even be on Indian soil, that is a sentiment. The priority of the government is to work with Indian Force, Police, Navy and NSG to ensure that Mumbai is safe and secure and clear of any kind of terror activity or terrorists," .

"Now, if there is any political party that is only playing to the gallery and doing its own drama to attract attention, I think it's unfortunate, because in a democracy there are legitimate ways to protest within the parameters of law. Those who take law and order into their hands to deflect from the issue, only shows you that they have no issues left," she added.

Saina further said that the Centre is serious about combating terrorism and terrorists activity and will not get distracted by the rants of the MNS.

"Our government is serious about combating terrorists and terror activity. The coordination of national security advisers with the Force One, NSG, Police, Coast Guards and Navy, etc is completely in collusion, and we are not going to get distracted by any political party that is trying to resurrect itself and come up with sensational statements over an issue which is not a priority, it is a sentiment," she said.

The MNS, on Friday, issued the ultimatum to Pakistani actors and artists to leave India, saying they will push them out of the country if they don't go back to home.

The threat comes close in the wake of a terrorist strike that killed 18 Army soldiers in Uri.

India has blamed Pakistan for the attack, as probe agencies reportedly recovered weapons and ammunition bearing Pakistani insignia from the site.

Pakistan has, however, flatly rejected New Delhi's claims of involvement in the Uri terror attack, stating that the latter has a traditional tendency to point fingers at the former whenever a terror attack takes place on Indian soil.