Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], May 20 (ANI): Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has hailed the success of Operation Sindoor, expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Indian armed forces.

He said the operation was a result of the collective desire of every Indian citizen to avenge the deaths of innocent people killed by terrorists in Pahalgam.

'Operation Sindoor was successful because it was the heart's desire of every citizen of the country to avenge the deaths of the innocent who were killed by terrorists in Pahalgam. PM Modi and our armed forces fulfilled that desire,' he said.

Talking to reporters on Tuesday Shinde said, 'Operation Sindoor was a success. So, I thank PM Narendra Modi. I also express gratitude to the jawans of our Army, Navy and Air Force.'

Taking aim at Pakistan, the Deputy CM alleged that the neighbouring country has encouraged terrorism. 'Pakistani Army and their lawmakers publicly attended the last rites of terrorists who were killed recently,' he said.

He also claimed that Indian forces destroyed nine terror camps, including the training centre of Ajmal Kasab, the lone surviving terrorist from the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.

'Our jawans also destroyed the training centre of Kasab. Nine such terror camps were destroyed,' Shinde said, adding, 'Other countries should know about Pakistan's sin of nurturing terrorism, and India's role against it.'

Shinde also said that his son and Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde was part of one of the MPs' delegations and called it a matter of pride for the party. 'This is patriotism, nationalism,' he said.

'I also express gratitude and thank PM for this opportunity,' he added.

Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde will be leading a group of MPs from multiple parties to United Arab Emirates, Liberia, Congo, and Sierra Leone, to put forth India's stance. BJP MPs Bansuri Swaraj, Atul Garg, Manan Kumar Mishra, along with Opposition members including Indian Union Muslim League MP Mohammed Basheer, BJD's Sasmit Patra, and Sujan Chinoy will be part of the group.

A total of seven groups of MPs have been delegated to go to more than 30 countries, led by a variety of leaders, including Congress' Shashi Tharoor, NCP-SCP's Supriya Sule, BJP's Ravi Shankar Prasad, DMK's Kanimozhi Karunanidhi and others.

Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Biju Janata Dal from the opposition's side have sent their MPs to be part of the delegation. NDA allies, including Janata Dal (United), and TDP are also part of the delegations.

Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7, targeting terror bases in Pakistan in retaliation for the deadly Pahalgam terror attack on April 22. The operation targeted terror infrastructure deep inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, eliminating over 100 terrorists linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen. (ANI)