Uddhav supports Bhagwat's 'Hindu nation' remarks

Mumbai, Aug 19: Backing RSS chief

over his "Hindutva" comments, Shiv Sena president

today said there is nothing wrong in his remarks.

"I support the comments made by Mohan Bhagwat. When he says that India is a Hindu nation, what's wrong with it. Balasaheb Thackeray used to say the same thing for a long time. So how can we change our stand on the issue today?" Uddhav said while replying to a query from reporters here. Bhagwat had on Sunday said India is a Hindu nation and Hindutva is its identity.

"Hindustan is a Hindu nation...Hindutva is the identity of our nation and it (Hinduism) can incorporate others(religions) in itself," the RSS chief had said. Earlier, Bhagwat had said in Cuttack,"The cultural identity of all Indians is Hindutva and the present inhabitants of the country are descendants of this great culture." Hitting out at Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan over his comment that "abolishing Planning Commission will cost the nation," Uddhav said he (Chavan) should first clarify what purpose has the Planning Commission served.

"The CM (Chavan) seems to be unhappy with the abolishing of the Planning Commission. But will he first tell everyone what real purpose has the Commission served anyway in all these years?" Thackeray said. When asked about the Central government's decision to call off Foreign Secretary-level talks with Pakistan following a meeting between the neighbouring country's ambassador and Kashmiri separatists, Thackeray said it is high time that Pakistan is dealt with seriously.

"We have to deal with Pakistan in a stern way. They don't fit to be friends," he said. Uddhav, who was speaking on the sidelines of inducting Dhaval Singh, son of NCP leader Pratapsingh Mohite Patil, into Shiv Sena, said he had called a meeting of party MPs today to formulate strategy for state Assembly elections.

"I had called a meeting of all our MPs today to strategise for the upcoming Vidhan Sabha elections in Maharashtra. Our leaders will also be visiting drought affected regions of the state on August 25 and 26 and submit a detailed report to me, after which I too will be visiting the regions to support the farmers there," he said.

PTI