Mumbaikars salute IAF for retaliatory strike

MUMBAI: The city and its satellite towns celebrated the Air Force's strike towards terror camps on Tuesday. While some came out on the streets, others took to Twitter to send congratulatory messages to the militia, the federal government and themselves. There had been also opportunists, basically politicians and their hangers-on, who sought to capitalize on the public temper.

The film industry used to be naturally excited as what had been the subject of cinematic myth for years perceived to have come true. "I'm very happy that our armed forces are so prepared and strong. I always say that India is there because of our armed forces. We live in this country and are very fortunate," Lata Mangeshkar informed a TV channel.

"Proud of our... fighters for destroying terror camps. Andar ghus ke maaro! Quiet no more!" exclaimed macho guy Akshay Kumar on Twitter. "Mess with the best, die like the rest," tweeted Ajay Devgn. "Respect Indian Air Force. Jai ho!" used to be Salman Khan's tribute.

At the selfie point out of doors the BMC, the scholars of a gurukul had been guided through their lecturers right into a patriotic demonstration. A child used to be even in a warrior's fancy costume, toy sword in hand. Other kids held posters with hand-painted photos of fighter plane.

It used to be a excellent day for sweetmeat sellers and grocers as laddus, modaks and even plain sugar had been allotted at quite a lot of puts, together with Vidhan Bhavan, the BMC headquarters, and to passersby. BJP MLA Ram Kadam allotted kaju katli at Vidhan Bhavan, emphasizing "Prime Minister Narendra Modi's befitting reply to Pakistan". Samajwadi Party leader Abu Azmi too allotted goodies. "This is a new and a strong India led by Narendra Modi," said Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

Corporators from the BJP, the second one biggest birthday celebration within the BMC, collected ahead of the company's meeting to raise the Tricolor and chant slogans. Shiv Sena leader Vishakha Raut tabled a "congratulatory proposal", following which politicians from all events praised the airstrike. BJP corporator Atul Shah declared plans to celebrate through lighting fixtures 800 lotus-shaped lamps as part of his birthday celebration's Kamal Jyoti Yatra. "Today's anti terrorist ops by the Indian Air Force prove our intent and capability. This is our war on terror. Let us not stop now till we crush terrorism and its patrons completely," tweeted Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray's son Aaditya.

MNS leader Raj Thackeray "saluted" the Air Force for its "valiant and focussed attack in destroying the terrorist base".

At the institute Anjuman-I-Islam, activists lit firecrackers, shouted slogans and sang patriotic songs. "Students of management, hotel management and law departments participated," said Anjuman president Dr Zaheer Qazi.

Amid all the songs and slogans, some urged caution. Advising sobriety, communications skilled Yashwant Deshmukh tweeted, "Dear Channels, please stop your Dhol-Nagada coverage. It's not a World Cup Cricket Match that we have won. We are going in for a long haul critical phase of war against terror. It's not going to be over soon. It's not going to be easy. And it's not going to be pleasant."