PM Modi Claims Congress Yielded to International Pressure After 26/11 Mumbai Terror Attacks

The PM stated his government prioritizes the country and its citizens' security.

Using former Union minister P Chidambaram's comments as ammunition, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has claimed the opposition party yielded to international pressure when deciding against retaliatory action towards Pakistan following the 26/11 attacks.

In a recent interview, Chidambaram, who became India's Home minister after the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, mentioned he was inclined to retaliate against Pakistan but the government chose restraint after global pressure not to initiate war.

The Congress leader revealed then US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice had traveled to New Delhi to meet him and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, urging India to avoid military action.

During Wednesday's inauguration of the Navi Mumbai International Airport, PM Modi referenced Chidambaram's remarks - without naming him - saying Mumbai, India's economic capital, was targeted in 2008, but the Congress-led government displayed weakness and submission to terrorism.

"A senior Congress leader, former Home minister of India, recently claimed that after 26/11, India's armed forces were ready to attack Pakistan. The country desired this action, but according to this Congress leader, the government prevented forces from attacking Pakistan due to another country's pressure," the PM stated.

"Congress must explain who made this decision under international pressure. Congress's weakness emboldened terrorists and undermined India's security, with India repeatedly paying the price through lives lost," he added.

Emphasizing his government's prioritization of national and citizen security, PM Modi declared that today's India believes in delivering appropriate responses and attacking Pakistan on its own territory ('ghar me ghuske maarta hai').

Referencing Operation Sindoor - India's response to April's Pahalgam terror attack that targeted terror infrastructure including Lashkar-e-Taiba headquarters in Muridke and Jaish-e-Mohammed in Bahawalpur - the PM said the world now understands this about India.

Congress Hits Back

Calling the PM's statements "baseless," Congress MP Manish Tewari argued that Pakistan-sponsored terror should not be politicized.

"This is completely baseless and wrong. It's unfortunate that India's Prime Minister made such a statement. The truth is that from 2014 to 2024, despite surgical strikes and recent actions, the DNA of Pakistan's deep state remains unchanged," Tewari said.

"Pakistan has supported terrorism against India since 1980. Every government in power has attempted to combat terrorism. Politicizing Pakistan-sponsored terrorism does not serve India's national security interests," he added.