Mumbai: Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray on October 4 said the only solution to curb "Islamic terrorism" was to strengthen the hinduvta movement and added the "bus diplomacy" between the two countries would only encourage the inflow of terrorists into India for subversive activities.

Addressing a mammoth public rally on the occasion of Dussehra at the sprawling Shivaji Park grounds in Mumbai, Thackeray said, "The peace talks have not progressed in the past because Pakistan has bullied us every time and the people of this country have always succumbed as they were followers of Mahatma Gandhi."

The Sena chief hit out at Pakistan's President Parvez Mushrraf saying he was a military leader and would not budge from his stand.

"It is time that we take a firm stand against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism."

Urging the Hindus to unite to fight Islamic terrorism, he said it had a vast network all over. Thackeray said Hindus all over the country would have to come together to fight this menace.

Even if Maharashtra took the lead, it alone could not fight Islamic terrorism and therefore all the states would have to come together under the umbrella of hinduvta to achieve this task, he said.

PTI