BJP Blasts Chidambaram Over 26/11 Retaliation Remarks, Questions Sonia Gandhi’s Role

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) launched a sharp attack on former Union Home Minister P Chidambaram over his recent interview about the UPA government’s decision not to retaliate militarily against Pakistan after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.

BJP accused the Congress of “mishandling” the situation under foreign pressure, reported The Times of India.

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi posted on X, “After 17 years, Chidambaram, former home minister, admits what the nation knew — 26/11 was mishandled due to pressure from foreign powers. Too little, too late.”

In his interview, Chidambaram admitted that the idea of “retaliation did cross his mind,” but the government decided against military action.

He said, “The whole world descended upon Delhi to tell us ‘don’t start a war.’ Condoleezza Rice, who was then US Secretary of State, flew in two or three days after I took over… to say, please don’t react.”

He recalled discussing retributive measures with then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other leaders, adding that “the conclusion was largely influenced by the Ministry of External Affairs and the IFS, that we should not physically react to the situation.”

BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain and others questioned whether the then Prime Minister or UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi overruled Chidambaram’s personal view.

Posting on X, Joshi asked, “Why was UPA taking orders from Condoleezza Rice? Why did Sonia Gandhi prevail over the Home Minister?”

Spokesperson of Bharatiya Janata Party Shehzad Poonawalla also accused Congress of giving Pakistan a “clean chit” in the 26/11 and 2007 Samjhauta Express cases and promoting a “Hindu terror” narrative despite repeated terror incidents.

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