Renewing the clamour for proclamation of India as a ‘Hindu nation’, Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday demanded to know as to why Prime Minister Narendra Modi had not visited the strife-torn Kashmir till now and thrown his weight behind the Hindus settled there.
In the first part of an interview published in the Sena’s official mouth-piece ‘Saamana’, Uddhav said that it was rather ‘unfortunate’ that a ‘horrendous situation’ prevailed in a State for which late Shyama Prasad Mukhejeee laid down his life and that too at a time when the BJP was at the helm of affairs in the valley State and at the Centre.
Taking on Modi for not addressing the Kashmir situation with seriousness it deserved, Uddhav said:“During the elections, the Prime Minister tours various states across the country. He also went to Kashmir during the election period. Why does not the same Prime Minister go to Kashmir now and stand by the Hindus thereIJ He has Army at his disposal. The police force is also with him. He has full powers with him. If one shoulders the responsibility vested with him, then the governance in the country will become smoother and the atmosphere of uncertainty prevailing in the country will end”.
At one stage in his marathon interview, Uddhav said that time had come to take a call and proclaim India as a ‘Hindu nation’. “Time has come for the country to choose a path. If we are to take a call now, there is no alternative before us but to declare India as a Hindu nation. We have had enough of the talk of secularism. Hindus have suffered enough because of secularism”.
Hitting out at the ruling BJP in the valley state and at the Centre for its failure to restore normalcy in Kashmir, Uddhav said: “The people have hit streets in Kashmir. There is anger among the youths. Anti-national slogans are being raised (by the angry youths). They have no fear of law. The soldiers and police have come under attacks from the agitators. The agitators are attacking the Army vehicles…. It is rather unfortunate that all these things are happening in a state for which late Shyamaprasad Mukherjee laid down his life, and the state and the Centre are being ruled by the same party”.
Alluding to ‘unrest’ among the youths in the valley state, Uddhav said: “Who is responsible for the current situation in KashmirIJ. Amaranth Yatra has been suspended, Hindus are being beaten, jawans attacked….The Government has changed – both in Jammu and Kashmir and at the Centre. How do you account for the happenings in the valley StateIJ”
The Sena president said that a ‘hazy situation’ was prevailing in the country “where not many know as to what was happening nor could one say with uncertainty as to who is doing what”. He likened the current situation in the country to a popular deodorant advertisement on television where in a Pakistani soldier asks his Indian counterpart "Kya Chal Raha HaiIJ, the latter responds saying: “ Fog Chal Raha hai"
The Sena President said that the country had travelled a long way from the time when it used to reverberate to the slogans of “Mandir Wahi Banayenge”, “Ab Hindu Maar Nahi Khayega” and “Garv Se Kaho Hum Hindu hain”. “What are we witnessing today in KashmirIJ Hindus are being beaten up…. If Amarnath Yatra has been suspended…. Who is responsible for all thisIJ”
Disapproving the manner in which the Hindu outfit ‘Sanatha Sanstha’ was being targeted, Uddhav said: “ I am not taking the Sanstha’s side. But, what I am saying is: investigate the allegations against the Sanstha and take the issue to a logical conclusion”. He demanded to know as to why the ‘same group of people’ who have been rooting for action against Sanstha” were not using the same language against Muslim terror outfits like ISIS.