MNS chief Raj Thackeray on Saturday came down heavily on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the recent air strikes on Pakistan, describing it as an attempt to divert the attention of the people from real issues plaguing the country.

Accusing Modi of politicising the Pulwama attack and the subsequent act of seeking revenge through an air strike, Thackeray said he feared yet another "staged" incident would be used to fan the patriotism of countrymen for exploiting the voters to the BJP's advantage in the Lok Sabha polls.