Senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram’s revelation on India’s restrained response after the 26/11 Mumbai attacks has triggered sharp criticism from the BJP.
New Delhi
Senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram has stirred controversy with his remarks on India’s response after the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. In a recent interview, he revealed that the UPA government was prepared for retaliation against Pakistan but refrained due to international pressure and advice from India’s diplomatic establishment.
Chidambaram recalled that within days of assuming office, then US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met him and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, urging India not to react militarily. “An act of retribution did cross my mind,” he admitted, while adding that the final decision was guided by the Ministry of External Affairs and senior diplomats. He also noted that Prime Minister Singh had discussed the possibility of a strike even as the 26/11 attacks were unfolding.
The four-day siege, carried out by ten Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists from Pakistan, claimed at least 160 lives and left Mumbai scarred. The Congress-led UPA government’s restraint has long been criticized by the BJP, which accuses it of being soft on terrorism.
Following Chidambaram’s revelation, BJP leaders launched sharp attacks. Union Minister Pralhad Joshi accused Congress of mishandling the crisis, calling the admission “too late, too little.” BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari alleged that Sonia Gandhi’s leadership prevented India from taking action, branding the party “anti-India” and “pro-Pakistan.”
The remarks have reignited the debate over whether India should have taken stronger military action in the aftermath of 26/11, underscoring the political fault lines that continue to surround the country’s counter-terrorism strategy.