Raj Thackeray criticises Operation Sindoor, Devendra Fadnavis dismisses remarks
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray slammed the Centre's handling of the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, sparking a war of words with Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.Thackeray questioned the effectiveness of 'Operation Sindoor' and cited the US response to 9/11, urging India to track down and eliminate individual perpetrators rather than relying on broad military actions or mock drills.advertisementHe also took a dig at the Prime Minister's public appearances in Bihar, Kerala and Mumbai, soon after the attack, asking if political events were being prioritised over national security.
Fadnavis dismissed Thackeray's comments, saying such remarks weren't worth engaging with during a national crisis. He also hit out at Congress leaders who questioned India's Rafale capabilities, calling them 'idiots.'The exchange has intensified speculation around a MNS's potential alliance with Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena (UBT) for upcoming municipal polls, especially in Mumbai.In the 2024 assembly elections, MNS failed to win any of the 125 seats it contested, including the high profile loss of party's young scion, and Raj Thackeray's son Amit in Mahim. With a vote share of just 1.55 per cent, the party risks losing its official recognition.advertisementDespite the poor showing, the MNS played spoiler in Mumbai by splitting the Marathi vote — an outcome that ended up helping Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena (UBT) in several constituencies.Now, ahead of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and other local polls, MNS is expected to sharpen its pro-Marathi focus and push civic issues like infrastructure and water supply.Both Raj and Uddhav Thackeray have exchanged warm public signals recently, fuelling talk of a possible tie-up. But political observers say the MNS will need more than just alliances — it must rebuild its ground strength and widen its base to stay politically relevant.
IN THIS STORY#Maharashtra
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
26 minutes ago
- Time of India
Terror group Sikhs for Justice operative arrested for vandalising B R Ambedkar's statue near Phillaur, writing ‘Pakistan Zindabad' during conflict
1 2 Mohali: The state special operation cell (SSOC), Mohali, has arrested a key operative of banned separatist outfit Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) for vandalism and inciting communal unrest across Punjab, according to Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav in a post on X on Wednesday. Resham Singh, a resident of Hamidi village in Barnala, was apprehended in an intelligence-led operation by SSOC officials. According to sources, he was absconding since early June after allegedly vandalising the statue of B R Ambedkar in Nangal village near Phillaur (Jalandhar), on the instructions of Surinder Singh Thikriwal, a US-based fugitive, and SFJ legal counsel Gurpatwant Singh Pannun (in pic), a designated terrorist. Investigators revealed that Resham Singh was actively involved in spreading pro-Khalistan and pro-SFJ graffiti across several Punjab districts, including Patiala, Faridkot, and Jalandhar. During the Indo-Pak border tensions in May 2025, he painted inflammatory slogans such as "Pakistan Zindabad" and "Khalistan Zindabad" on public walls, allegedly to provoke unrest and stoke separatist sentiments. Officials said there is evidence that the accused received foreign funding to carry out these anti-national activities. He has a history of similar offences and was previously booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in Karnal (Haryana) and Sangrur (Punjab). A fresh FIR was registered at SSOC, Mohali, and further investigations are ongoing to identify other operatives and funding channels linked to the SFJ network.
Time of India
28 minutes ago
- Time of India
No mediation on Pakistan acceptable: PM Modi to US President Trump
Both Agree to Meeting Soon Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Prime Minister Narendra Modi told US President Donald Trump that India has never asked for, and will never accept, third-party mediation to address its dispute with Pakistan . Modi also told Trump that India now treats acts of terrorism not as proxy actions, but as acts of two leaders spoke over the phone late on Tuesday. Modi was in Canada to attend the G7 Summit . The conversation took place ahead of Trump's luncheon meeting with visiting Pakistan Army chief, General Syed Asim the press on Wednesday morning, foreign secretary Vikram Misri said the phone call lasted approximately 35 minutes. Modi briefed Trump about Operation Sindoor , according to Misri. No topics related to trade were discussed in connection with the operation.'The Prime Minister said talks regarding cessation of military action were held directly between India and Pakistan,' Misri was 'under the existing channels established between both militaries. It was done at Pakistan's request,' said also said India's actions were 'very measured, precise and non-escalatory.'He also revealed that on the night of May 9, US vice president JD Vance had alerted India about a potential large-scale Pakistani attack. The PM told Trump that India had made it clear it would respond with even greater force, if asked if Modi could stop over in the US on his way back from Canada, but the Prime Minister expressed his inability to do so due to prior leaders agreed to meet in the near future, Misri said. A physical meeting between Modi and Trump was not possible in Canada as the US President left the summit was the first conversation between the two leaders since Operation phone call is significant in the context of a lunch meeting between Trump and Munir. This is a rare meeting between a US president and a Pakistan Army chief in recent is also expected to meet secretary of state Marco Rubio and defence secretary Pete Hegseth. There are reports Pakistan can provide airspace and assets to the US military for its strikes against Modi did not meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the G7 meeting in Canada, though it was earlier scheduled. He met leaders of France, Italy, Germany, Japan, South Korea, South Africa and Brazil, besides host Canada.
Time of India
28 minutes ago
- Time of India
Putin eyes Israel-Iran crisis to reclaim global spotlight, offers to mediate despite Ukraine war
Vladimir Putin is eyeing the conflict between Israel and Iran as an opportunity to thrust himself to the forefront of the international stage, more than three years into his invasion of Ukraine. The Russian president has pitched himself as a possible mediator-though Moscow's closeness to Iran and Russia's invasion of Ukraine raise doubts about what kind of role he can play, experts say. The assault on Ukraine and the war in Gaza have strained Moscow's traditionally good relations with Israel, home to a large Russian-born community. At the same time, Russia has deepened military ties with Iran. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villa For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Villas in Dubai | Search ads Learn More Undo But while Moscow was quick to condemn Israel's strikes on Iran last Friday, Putin also wasted little time phoning both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to offer his role as a peacemaker. "By positioning itself as an indispensable intermediary, Moscow aims to reassert diplomatic relevance despite its pariah status in Europe," said Nicole Grajewski, an analyst at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace . It also wants to protect its ally Tehran, facing a potentially transformative military clash. Live Events "Russia does not want to see regime change in Iran, especially if it results in a pro-Western government," she added. Moscow and Tehran in January inked a far-ranging strategic partnership agreement to broaden military ties, and Kyiv and its allies have long accused Iran of supplying Russia with drones and short-range missiles. French President Emmanuel Macron is among those to have pushed back at the idea of a mediation role for Putin. "I do not believe that Russia, which is now engaged in a high-intensity conflict and has decided not to respect the UN Charter for several years now, can be a mediator," he said over the weekend. Many others also see the prospect of Putin's involvement as worrying. "It would legitimise Russia as an indispensable great power at a time when it is waging the biggest war of aggression on European soil since World War II," said Anna Borshchevskaya, an analyst at The Washington Institute. Trump on Wednesday rolled back his earlier openness to Putin playing middleman, telling the Kremlin chief to end his war on Ukraine before getting involved in the Iran-Israel conflict. "He actually offered to help mediate, I said: 'Do me a favour, mediate your own. Let's mediate Russia first, okay?"' Trump told reporters at the White House. "I said ' can worry about this later.'"
