Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Monday that had Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray been alive, he would have hugged Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the success of Operation Sindoor.
Speaking at a BJP rally in Nanded, Shah slammed the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) saying it mocked the multi-party delegations visiting partner countries to convey India's message of zero tolerance against terrorism as 'baraat' (wedding procession). “This was once Balasaheb’s party. Today, they mock efforts to present India’s stance on terrorism to the world. Had Balasaheb been alive, he would have hugged Modi. Ironically, members of Uddhav Sena are part of the same delegations they’re ridiculing,” Shah said.
Shah praised Operation Sindoor, India’s quick military response to the Pahalgam terror attack, as a strong show of the country’s tough stand on national security. “This wasn’t just a message to Pakistan, but to the whole world anyone who threatens our soldiers, borders, or people will face serious consequences,” he said.
“Modiji has made it clear that if innocent blood is shed, the response will be ten times stronger. If our women’s sindoor is targeted, the answer will be bloodier,” he declared.
Shah highlighted the Centre’s intensified crackdown on left-wing extremism. He shared details of Operation Black Forest in Chhattisgarh, where CRPF, state police and BSF forces eliminated 31 Naxals and destroyed hideouts located at an altitude of 5,000 feet. He also stated that the government aims to completely wipe out Naxalism by March 31, 2026.
Shah further stated that India’s health infrastructure has seen a significant boost under PM Narendra Modi’s leadership, contrasting it with the Congress era. Speaking at the National Cancer Institute in Nagpur after laying the foundation stone for ‘Swasti Niwas’ a residential facility for cancer patients and caregivers, Shah noted the sharp rise in the health budget from Rs37,000 crore under the UPA to Rs1.35 lakh crore now. He also acknowledged the private sector’s role in strengthening healthcare. Highlighting concerns, he said India has the world’s highest share of oral cancer patients, and one woman dies of cervical cancer every eight minutes.
