In an indication of a widening divide between the Shiv Sena and the BJP, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is said to have communicated his displeasure to his Hindutva ally on their MP Sanjay Raut's comments regarding "sari and shawl diplomacy" with Pakistan.

Earlier this week, Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP and spokesperson Sanjay Raut, who also edits the party's mouthpiece Saamna, had slammed the 'sari and shawl' diplomacy with Pakistan after an Indian Army soldier was killed in firing by Pakistan along the Line of Control (LoC).

The jibe referred to the gesture of Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif sending a sari for Modi's mother. Modi had earlier gifted a shawl to his Pakistani counterpart's mother when he had visited India for his swearing in ceremony.

A senior minister in the BJP-led NDA government in which the Shiv Sena has a minister — Anant Geete (heavy industries) — told dna in an informal chat that Modi was quite angry about Raut's comments, and had conveyed his anguish to Sena president Uddhav Thackeray. When contacted, Raut told dna that he would talk later, but did not.