Taking a dig at the Centre over the terror attack on Amarnath pilgrims in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag and the recent episodes of lynching in the name of cow protection, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray said that none of the terrorists would have been left alive, had they been carrying beef.
"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?"
"The issue of 'gau rakshaks' is raging today. Why don't you send these vigilantes to fight terrorists?" Thackeray asked while addressing representatives of various Ganesh mandals for the upcoming festival here.
Seven Amarnath pilgrims, including six women, were killed and 19 injured when terrorists attacked a bus in Kashmir's Anantnag district last evening.
Thackeray added that the attack on the pilgrims is a terrible incident and such attacks on the shrines of Hindu is only possible in India.
Thackeray, whose party shares an uneasy relationship with the BJP, further 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.
Earlier yesterday, senior Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut had said that the attack on Amarnath Yatra pilgrims is an assault on the entire nation and the government and it is high time that such dastardly incidents are given a befitting reply. “This attack was not only on pilgrims going for the Amarnath yatra but on the entire country and the government in Delhi (Centre),” Raut told reporters.
Meanwhile, Union ministers Jitendra Singh and Hansraj Ahir met Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti separately and assured the state government of all-out support from the Centre in maintaining law and order.
Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Singh and Minister of State for Home Affairs Ahir, part of a central delegation visiting Jammu and Kashmir to assess security measures for Amarnath pilgrims in the wake of a terrorist attack, called on the chief minister at her residence here this evening, an official spokesman said.
