Sena (UBT) Joins Anti-Terror Delegation Drive After Rijiju Call, Seeks Accountability On Pahalgam Attack

Days after initially calling for a boycott of all-party delegations, the Shiv Sena (UBT) has now extended its support to the Indian government’s international push to highlight Pakistan-based terrorism — a move the party described as being in the national interest, on Tuesday.

The change in stance came after a phone conversation between Union Minister Kiren Rijiju and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday. The minister reached out to discuss the party’s participation in the all-party delegations being sent abroad to explain India’s position on cross-border terrorism.

In a post on X, the Sena (UBT) clarified that Rijiju’s reassurance — that the delegations are meant to present a united front against global terrorism and not promote any political agenda — was a key factor in its decision to participate.

“Once assured that the mission was above politics, we committed to doing what is right and necessary for the country,” the party said. Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi will represent the Sena (UBT) in these delegations.

Just days earlier, party spokesperson Sanjay Raut had criticized the initiative, suggesting that the INDIA bloc should boycott it, claiming it would merely serve to defend the government’s “sins and crimes.”

India’s outreach follows the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, in which 26 people lost their lives, and the launch of Operation Sindoor. As part of the effort, 51 political leaders — including MPs and former ministers from across party lines — will travel to various global capitals to present a unified Indian stance on Pakistan-sponsored terrorism.

Despite joining the initiative, the Sena (UBT) emphasized the need for accountability over the Pahalgam intelligence lapse. “We support the global fight to expose and dismantle terrorism rooted in Pakistan, but we will continue to question the domestic failures that led to such tragedies,” the statement read.

The party also urged the Centre to establish a more structured protocol for informing political parties about such delegations to prevent future confusion and mismanagement.

Finally, it called for an all-party meeting chaired by the Prime Minister to address the broader national security scenario — from the Pahalgam incident to the strategic objectives of Operation Sindoor.