Send 'gau rakshaks' to fight terrorists: Shiv Sena

The Shiv Sena took a dig at the Prime Minister and the BJP over the terror attack on Amarnath pilgrims, asking its senior ally to send 'gau rakshaks' to fight terrorists in the Valley. The NDA ally today said the Centre merely condemns such dastardly attacks on paper instead of bringing the terrorists to book and said a government having a "56-inch chest" was needed in the state to tackle Pakistan. 

The Sena was taking a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his remark during the general elections campaign that a "56-inch chest" was needed to tackle Pakistan. Seven pilgrims from Gujarat and Maharashtra were killed and 19 injured in Monday night's attack by terrorists. The attack was reportedly masterminded by a Pakistan-based militant leader. 

The Sena today said in an editorial in party mouthpiece 'Saamana' that the only answer the Centre had to the brutal attack was to condemn it on social networking site Twitter. "Who has the courage to stop these inhuman attacks today? How will you fight terrorists by only expressing sympathies or condemning the attacks on paper?" it asked. 

Home Minister Rajnath Singh yesterday said he saluted the people of Jammu and Kashmir who had condemned the attack on Amarnath pilgrims and kept the spirit of Kashmiriyat alive. He described the attack as very "unfortunate and painful". "The government machinery in Kashmir has completely collapsed today," the Sena said, adding that the prevailing crisis in Kashmir was dangerous for the unity of the nation. 

"There is no government in Jammu and Kashmir in reality today. The state is only ruled by terror and violence unleashed by terrorists. The state today needs a government having a 56-inch chest to bring an end to terrorists," the Saamana editorial said. 

"If a strong message has to be given to Pakistan and terrorists, then abolish Article 370 (of the Constitution) within a week and show the world that Jammu and Kashmir is an inseparable part of India," the Sena said. 

Yesterday, Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray had asked its senior ally to send 'gau rakshaks' to fight terrorists in the Valley. "They (the BJP) used to say that do not bring sports, culture etc. in political issues. Today, religion and politics came together in the form of the terror attack. Should we understand that none of those terrorists would have been alive today if they had cow meat in their bags and not weapons?" Thackeray had asked. 

"The issue of 'gau rakshaks' is raging today. Why don't you send these vigilantes to fight terrorists?" he asked while addressing representatives of various Ganesh mandals for the upcoming festival here. 

Thackeray, whose party shares an uneasy relationship with the BJP, said, "If the BJP government can talk to separatists in the Kashmir Valley to resolve their issues, they can certainly talk with those wishing to celebrate the Ganesh festival amidst fanfare." 

He requested the Devendra Fadnavis government to bring in an ordinance against restrictions imposed by the Bombay High Court on noise level during the festivals. 

Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut had also said that the attack on Amarnath pilgrims was an assault on the entire nation and the government, and it is high time that such dastardly incidents are given a befitting reply instead of merely condemning them. "This attack was not only on pilgrims going for the 
Amarnath yatra but on the entire country and the government in Delhi (Centre)," he said. 

"Merely condemning the incident will not suffice. It is now high time that this (terrorist attack) is given a befitting reply," he said.