Chidambaram attacked PM Modi, saying, “The things imposed on me are completely wrong…”

New Delhi. Congress leader P. Chidambaram on Thursday sharply reacted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement in which the PM accused the then government of not attacking Pakistan after the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. Chidambaram said that the things imposed on him by the Prime Minister are “completely wrong.” He wrote in a post on X, “All three things the Honorable Prime Minister said are wrong, very wrong. It is sad that he imagined them and attributed them to me.”

What did PM Modi say?
At a rally on Wednesday, PM Modi, without naming anyone, said that a senior Congress leader had recently revealed in an interview that Indian forces were ready to attack Pakistan after the 26/11 attacks, but the Congress government, under pressure from outside, prevented the army from taking action. The Prime Minister said, “Mumbai is not only the economic capital of India, but also one of the most vibrant cities. That is why terrorists targeted Mumbai in 2008. The Congress government of that time sent a message of weakness and surrender in the face of terror.” He questioned the Congress party, asking under whose pressure the army was stopped and who made this decision.

Chidambaram’s response to PM Modi’s attack
Following this statement, Congress leader P. Chidambaram said that he did not make any statement like the Prime Minister is making. He said, “What the Prime Minister said is not my words. It is disappointing that they misinterpreted my words.” Speaking to a news channel on October 1, P. Chidambaram recalled the events of that time. He explained that India faced international pressure after the 26/11 attacks, particularly from the US Department of Homeland Security. He said that India chose the diplomatic route rather than military action to avoid further escalation. Chidambaram recalled that he assumed office on November 30, 2008, following the resignation of then-Home Minister Shivraj Patil. Immediately after the attacks, several important meetings were held, and the decision was made to garner international support rather than attack Pakistan.

Political Dispute Intensifies and the Mumbai Terror Attack
Political rhetoric has intensified following PM Modi’s statement. The BJP is accusing the Congress of “showing weakness,” while the Congress is calling it a “fabricated statement” by the Prime Minister. In the November 26, 2008, Mumbai attacks, terrorists attacked several locations in Mumbai, targeting the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, the railway station, and a cafe. More than 160 people were killed and hundreds were injured in this attack.