Why is Shiv Sena silent on invite to Sharif: Maha Cong

Maharashtra unit of Congress today questioned Shiv Sena's silence over the invitation to Pakistan premier Nawaz Sharif for Prime Minister-elect Narendra Modi's swearing-in tomorrow.

In a statement, Congress spokesman Sachin Sawant said his party had always believed that disputes can be resolved through bilateral talks, but Sena and BJP sang a different tune earlier.

"Congress has always given priority to maintaining peace and harmony with neighbours and when need arose, Pakistan was taught a lesson by entering its territory. But BJP and Shiv Sena have always been critical of Congress's policy," he said.

Sena has been very vocal in its opposition to Pakistani cricket players playing in India, or artistes from that country performing in Mumbai.

"Arrival of Pakistan PM for the swearing-in is a big event," Sawant noted. "It was expected that Shiv Sena would make its stand clear on presence of Nawaz Sharif but its silence shows that its earlier anti-Pakistan stand was just for political convenience," he said.

"Inviting Pakistan PM is not wrong. But had it been done by the Congress, what would the BJP and Sena have done?" he asked.