PM upset with Sena remark
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has apparently conveyed his displeasure to Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray over a Sena leader’s “sari and shawl diplomacy” remarks made earlier this week.
Sources disclosed the Prime Minister was not happy with the remarks as it involved his mother. Party sources said Mr Modi conveyed his displeasure through “appropriate channels” to the Sena chief.
Sena leader Sanjay Raut’s remarks had come after an Indian jawan was killed in firing by the Pakistani forces at the border earlier this week. The Sena leader had also demanded that there should be no talks with Pakistan and India should give a befitting reply over the incident.
The Sena leader’s remarks were seen as a jibe at the gesture of Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif who had sent a white sari for Mr Modi’s mother Heeraben. Mr Modi had earlier gifted a shawl for Mr Sharif ’s mother, when the Pakistani leader had participated in Mr Modi’s swearing- in ceremony in May. Mr Modi had invited the heads of the governments of the Saarc countries to attend his swearing- in, which was first of its kind. In the BJP circle, the Sena leader’s remarks were seen as part of the pressure tactics by its ally ahead of the two parties finalising the contentious issues of seat sharing formula and chief ministerial candidate post for the coming Assembly elections in Maharashtra.
While both the allies are staking claim for the chief ministerial candidate post, with Sena projecting its chief Uddhav Thackeray for the top post, BJP also wants to contest equal number of Assembly seats.