Balasaheb Thackeray would have hugged PM Modi for Operation Sindoor, says Amit Shah
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Union home minister
Amit Shah
on Monday criticised Shiv Sena (UBT) for terming the all-party delegation sent abroad by govt to present India's position on terrorism as "Baraat", and said that had Balasaheb Thackeray been alive, he would have "hugged" Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the success of
Operation Sindoor
.
Shah also took a swipe at Sharad Pawar, saying the NCP veteran never pushed for Marathi to be given classical language status when he was in power. "Modi did what Pawar couldn't," he said.
Shah on Monday formally kick-started BJP's campaign for the upcoming civic body elections across Maharashtra, with an address at the Shankhnad Mahasabha in Nanded. On May 6, the Supreme Court had directed the Maharashtra election commission to notify civic body polls within four months.
Addressing the huge rally, Shah said that even Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs were a part of the all-party delegation that was sent by
PM Modi
to expose Pakistan globally for its support to terrorism. "Yet, a top leader of Shiv Sena (UBT) mocked it saying 'Yeh kiski baraat jaa rahi hai?' [Whose wedding procession is this?]," Shah said, without naming MP Sanjay Raut.
Opening his speech with a reference to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, Shah said, "Pakistan-sponsored terrorists killed innocent civilians, and PM Modi then declared from Patna that wherever the culprits are hiding, they will be identified and reduced to dust.
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Pakistan must remember — this is Modi's India."
The operation was a marker of Naya Bharat (New India) under Modi's leadership, he said, and added: "PM Modi named the action 'Operation Sindoor' to symbolise the sacred dignity of our mothers and sisters. Those who dare touch that sindoor will pay with blood."
The Union minister also highlighted Operation Black Forest in Chhattisgarh, where close to 70 Naxals were killed in two successive operations.
"Many Naxals have surrendered. I promise that by March 31, 2026, we will eliminate Naxalism from the face of India," Shah said.
He lauded Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis for launching a massive water grid project in Marathwada. "Every village in Marathwada will have water in five years. This project was stalled by the then MVA govt, but now, under BJP's leadership, it is back on track. We will bring water from Konkan to solve this crisis," he said.
Shah said Maharashtra will lead India's development journey. "Modi has set 2047 as the target for making India a world leader. Maharashtra will be the first to get there — and the rest will follow."
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