New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday accused the Congress of showing weakness after the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, saying the party had bowed to international pressure and prevented the armed forces from striking back at Pakistan.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Navi Mumbai International Airport, Modi referred to recent remarks by former Union Minister P. Chidambaram, who said that while he favoured retaliatory action after 26/11, the government chose restraint following appeals from global leaders. Without naming him, Modi said a senior Congress leader had revealed that the forces were ready to attack but were stopped because of pressure from another country. “Congress must tell the nation which country influenced this decision. Their weakness encouraged terrorism and cost many Indian lives,” he said.
Calling Mumbai the heart of India’s economy, Modi said the 26/11 attacks were meant to strike at the country’s progress. “Instead of responding with strength, the Congress government sent a message of helplessness,” he added.
The Prime Minister contrasted this with his government’s approach, saying today’s India responds firmly to terrorism. Citing Operation Sindoor, launched after the Pahalgam terror attack in April, he said India’s precision strikes had shown that it can hit back “inside the enemy’s home.”
Rejecting Modi’s remarks, Congress MP Manish Tewari said they were “baseless” and that no government had ever compromised on national security. He added that terrorism should not be politicised, as unity is vital in the fight against Pakistan-sponsored terror.
