New Delhi: Congress leader and former Union home minister P Chidambaram made a startling revelation in an interview with ABP Live by saying that he was in favour of a retaliatory strike against Pakistan in the aftermath of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks of 2008, but was ultimately overruled.
In the interview, the Congress veteran spoke about the behind-the-scenes decisions after he assumed charge as the home minister immediately after the attacks, and the government’s stance on not retaliating or bringing the perpetrators to justice.
“I became home minister the day after the attack. The then Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, called me to shift me from finance to the home ministry. When I initially refused, I was told that Mrs (Sonia) Gandhi, who was Congress president at the time, had already made a decision. I asked if I could speak with her, but was told she was out of town. I was instructed to take charge the next morning,” Chidambaram said.
“I told them that I am happy to complete my term as the finance minister. I have presented five budgets, and the elections were supposed to be held in April 2009. But I was told no, and the PM informed me that the party will have to move ahead with the decision. I told them that I will move, but reluctantly,” he added.
Chidambaram admitted that he had little knowledge of India’s military and intelligence preparedness at the time. He also said he was unaware of the intelligence assets in Pakistan and neighbouring regions.
“I went in blank,” he said.
Revealing his personal stance, the Congress leader said, “It did cross my mind that we should do some act of retribution. I did discuss it with the Prime Minister and other people who mattered. The PM had discussed this matter when the attack was going on, I can surmise. And the conclusion was largely influenced by the MEA and the IFS that we should not physically react to the situation, but we should employ diplomatic means,” Chidambaram said.
He then clarified that the conclusion was reached amid pressure from the world that was “descending upon Delhi to tell us that don’t start a war”. He said that the then US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice flew to New Delhi to meet him and PM Manmohan Singh, urging not to react.
BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla reacted sharply to Chidambaram’s statement, calling it an ‘explosive revelation’ and accused the Congress of being weak-kneed on national security.
In a post on X, Poonawalla alleged that Chidambaram was reluctant to take charge as home minister after the attacks and later “wanted action on Pakistan, but others prevailed.”
He questioned whether Congress president Sonia Gandhi or then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had blocked the move, adding that the UPA government seemed to follow directions from then US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice, who reportedly insisted that India should not retaliate.
“Why was UPA taking orders from her? Why did Sonia Gandhi prevail over the Home Minister?” Poonawalla asked in a post on X.
The BJP leader further accused the Congress of giving Pakistan “a clean chit” on 26/11 and the Samjhauta blast case, and of creating a “Hindu terror” narrative instead. He also claimed the UPA government granted Pakistan Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status despite repeated terror strikes, and said the Congress continues to “doubt” India’s surgical strikes and Balakot airstrikes.
The BJP leader ended his attack by pointing out that the Congress has not congratulated the Indian cricket team on its recent Asia Cup victory.
