The Shiv Sena Saturday came out in support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not taking questions from the media at a press conference in Delhi.
On Friday, PM Modi showed up on the dais at the BJP headquarters in Delhi for a scheduled press conference by party president Amit Shah, but refused to take any questions, citing party discipline.
Shiv Sena leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut said, "It was Amit Shah's press conference and PM Modi was present there as a party worker. It is not that he doesn't answer questions. He has given interviews to television and print."
Speaking to reporters, Mr Raut said the prime minister communicates with people through his speeches, adding that it is better to be silent than answer questions.
To a question on PM Modi's visit to Kedarnath and Badrinath, Mr Raut said, "It is good he is visiting temples. This is Hindu culture and not politics."
On a query on Mahatma Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse being called a patriot, Mr Raut said action has been taken against those making such comments and claimed such remarks would not affect the poll outcome.
He sidestepped a query on cabinet expansion in the Maharashtra government and said his party was concentrating on the May 23 Lok Sabha results.
PM Shri Schools Have Become Inspiration For Rural Children: Dharmendra Pradhan Opinion: Opinion | UCC To Corruption, 4 Messages From Modi's Independence Day Speech President Murmu, PM Modi Pay Tributes To Atal Bihari Vajpayee On Death Anniversary Mamata Banerjee's Sunday Ultimatum To CBI For Death Penalty In Rape-Murder How Extreme Weather Is Leading To Rise In Child Marriages In Pakistan "Prove With Pics Crime Scene Intact": Court To Bengal Over Hospital Vandalism Egyptian Ship Arrested At Paradip Port In Odisha For Outstanding Debt Will Back Any Candidate Announced As Chief Minister Face: Uddhav Thackeray Trump, Musk, And The Importance Of 'Exaggeration' In Storytelling Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.