Uddhav Thackeray addresses party workers in Porvorim, Goa, on Saturday. (PTI Photo) Uddhav Thackeray addresses party workers in Porvorim, Goa, on Saturday. (PTI Photo)

Hailing the Army’s surgical strikes across the Line of Control, Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray said on Saturday that such strikes must continue till Pakistan becomes Hindustan.

“The recently conducted surgical strike must be the beginning and not the last one against Pakistan. The entire country is with you (the Army). India has the capacity to strike against Pakistan and crush it,” the Shiv Sena chief said.

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Thackeray was addressing party workers in the run-up to the 2017 Goa elections. Sena is looking to contest the Assembly polls in alliance with the Goa Suraksha Manch, led by rebel RSS leader Subhash Velingkar.

Drawing a parallel with the 1971-Bangladesh Liberation War, Thackeray said: “Indira Gandhi had authorised an Army operation in Bangladesh. India must conduct (more) such operations against Pakistan so that it becomes Hindustan. They must start by taking Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir,” he said.

Thackeray, however, took a dig at Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar for linking the strikes to RSS teachings and said the Centre must not use military operations for political purposes. “No doubt the RSS has been working for Hindutva and I completely respect its contribution. But the actions of the soldiers in the surgical operation must not be discredited,” he said.

He added: “Those who said surgical strikes never happened must leave or be sent out of the country”.

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