Give Pakistan a fitting reply for Uri, says Thackeray

Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday called upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi "to give a fitting reply to Pakistan" for the recent terror strike in Uri.

Speaking to media persons, Thackeray said only negotiations with Pakistan will not work now, India must reply to it in the same language.

"If a war is required, do it for the country, not for elections," Thackeray said.

He pointed out that the Uri attack has enraged the people of the country, "but when are we going to understand Pakistan's language and change our soft stance towards them?"

"We must keep in mind how Pakistan treats India and give it a befitting reply.. ," Thackeray urged Modi. His party is a partner in the ruling alliance at the Centre as well as in Maharashtra.

Thackeray said after such attacks, "we get angry, then cool down, and then go to Pakistan and have hot tea" -- It was a clear jibe at Modi's surprise visit to Pakistan on December 25 last year for having a cup of tea with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

"In the wake of the series of attacks, anybody who wants to shed tears can do so, but we will go to Pakistan for drinking tea -- this appears to be the message being conveyed," Thackeray said without taking names.

The Sena chief said we welcome their artistes and cricketers, keep sipping tea and wait for the next attack even before the tears of the previous one are wiped off.

"You have the majority ... You had made big promises of teaching a lesson to Pakistan before the elections. The people had kept faith in you and voted... now is the time to fulfil those assurances," Thackeray said reminded Modi.

Pakistan engineers such attacks regularly. Earlier it was Pathankot in January and now Uri. Our Home Minister Rajnath Singh was boycotted and given a shabby treatment -- "When are we going to take revenge for all this, that is the question troubling the people of the country," the Shiv Sena chief said.

This was Thackeray's first direct reaction after the Uri attacks on Sunday which left 18 soldiers dead, including four from Maharashtra.

It was the second major terror strike after the January 2 attacks on Pathankot Air Force Station in Punjab which left a total of eight dead besides at least four-six attackers.

--IANS

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