Raj Thackeray Predicts Another Pulwama-Like Attack Ahead of Polls

File image of MNS chief Raj Thackeray.

(Photo: Reuters)

Addressing the workers of his party, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Saturday, 9 March, said another “Pulwama-like attack” could take place in a “bid to win the upcoming Lok Sabha polls”.

“There is a limit to speaking lies. Lies are being spoken to win elections. In a bid to win upcoming elections, there will be another Pulwama-like attack within the next one to two months.”

Raj Thackeray said at the event

In the 14 February Pulwama attack, the worst in the Valley so far, 40 CRPF personnel were killed when a suicide bomber rammed his explosives-laden vehicle into a bus in the paramilitary force's convoy.

Disputing that terrorists were killed in the air raids, Thackeray said had that been the case, Indian Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman would not have been allowed to return home from captivity by Pakistan.

Thackeray also alleged that the warnings issued by intelligence agencies prior to the Pulwama attack were ignored.

“40 jawans were martyred in the Pulwama attack. Should we still not ask questions? In December, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval had met his Pakistani counterpart in Bangkok. Who will tell us what transpired at the meeting?”

Raj Thackeray said at the event

Thackeray claimed the Indian Air Force “missed” targets it had intended to hit in Balakot because of "wrong information" provided to them by the Modi government.

Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement that presence of Rafale jets could have added to more firepower to the 26 February raids by Air Force on a terrorist camp in Pakistan's Balakot, Thackeray said “it was an insult to our jawans”.

“If the Prime Minister himself says that results would have been better had the country have Rafale jets, it was an insult to our jawans.”

Raj Thackeray said at the event

On Contesting 2019 Elections

Meanwhile, Thackeray, who is battling for political survival in Maharashtra, clarified that no talks underway with any political party for upcoming elections. The MNS has been keen to join the Congress-NCP alliance for polls.

Thackeray had even met senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar to facilitate the MNS' entry into the alliance. However, the Congress is stridently opposed to take “chauvinist” MNS along in the polls.

“I am not a (Bharip Bahujan Mahasangh chief Prakash) Ambedkar or an (AIMIM chief Asaduddin) Owaisi to hold discussions on two to three seats. I will soon announce if we will be fighting the Lok Sabha elections,” he said.

(With inputs from PTI)