Mumbai, Aug 19 (IANS): Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray Tuesday endorsed RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's comments on Hindutva and Hindu nation, contending it is a reiteration of the ideology of the late Bal Thackeray.

"I am in support of Bhagwat's comments. What's wrong if he says India is a Hindu nation? Balasaheb Thackeray used to say the same thing openly for a long time and it used to create controversies. Why should we change our stand on it now? Why should anybody be ashamed of it?" Thackeray told media persons.

He was responding to queries on Bhagwat's comments last Sunday that India is a Hindu nation and Hindutva is its identity, which has been criticized by various parties, including the Congress.

On the Narendra Modi government's decision to call off foreign secretary level talks with Pakistan after its envoy here met Kashmiri separatists, Thackeray urged the government to handle the Pakistani issue seriously.

"We must deal with Pakistan in a stern manner... Any amount of negotiations we conduct with that country won't serve any purpose. They don't deserve to be our friends," he said.

Thackeray was interacting with media after senior Nationalist Congress Party leader Pratapsinh Mohite-Patil's son Dhavalsinh joined the Shiv Sena at a function.