War is not the answer to a terrorist attack, says Raj Thackeray after India carries out 'Operation Sindoor'

MUMBAI: MNS chief Raj Thackeray took a critical position on the air-strikes saying, “War is not the answer to a terrorist attack. When the Twin Towers were targeted in the US, they did not go to war. They found the terrorists and killed them.”“The government has not been able to find the terrorists behind the Pahalgam attack. Instead of conducting mock drills, the government should undertake combing operations and find the terrorists,” said Thackeray.He also said, “There is no need to destroy Pakistan. It is already finished.”Thackeray also pointed out that Prime Minister Modi was away during the Pahalgam attack and then went to Bihar to campaign. “When the attack took place, Prime Minister Modi was in Saudi Arabia. Then he went to Bihar to campaign. There was no need for that. Then he went for the Adani Port project in Kerala and then he came to Mumbai to address the WAVES summit. At such a serious time, he should have postponed this,” he said.Thackeray’s position suggests that he will not back the BJP in the upcoming BMC polls as he had done in the past.In recent years, as his party lost support, Thackeray has alternately bashed and supported the BJP. In the Lok Sabha polls last year, he had extended his unconditional support to the Mahayuti alliance. Last month, talk of a reconciliation between Raj and his cousin, SS UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray did the rounds. At the time, Raj had said he was willing to set aside minor differences for the good of Maharashtra.Thackeray also said that the government needs to look within itself for answers and also needs to address its own lapses in the Pahalgam terror strike. “The location of the terror strike was in an area that has seen heavy tourist traffic for many years. Why was no security provided there?” he asked.