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Mumbai, Oct 9 (IANS) Mahayuti leaders from Maharashtra on Thursday backed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks criticizing the Congress for not responding militarily to the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks amid alleged foreign pressure, saying the situation in the country has fundamentally changed under the BJP-led government since 2014.
Speaking at a public rally in Mumbai on Wednesday, PM Modi said India was ready to retaliate after the 26/11 attacks, but the then UPA government stopped doing so under pressure from a foreign power.
He cited a recent interview given by senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram, who was the Union Home Minister during the UPA era, saying the leader had revealed that the armed forces were ready to attack Pakistan after 26/11, but were stopped due to external influence.
Accusing the previous government of compromising national sentiments and encouraging terrorists through indecision, the Prime Minister said, “The entire country wanted a strong response. Our forces were ready. But the Congress government stopped them. Who imposed foreign pressure? Who in the Congress took this decision? The people of India deserve to know this.”
He had said, “This weakness cost us dearly. It strengthened the hands of terrorists and repeatedly put the lives of innocent people in danger.”
Maharashtra minister Ashish Jaiswal supported the Prime Minister’s claim, saying that earlier reactions to terrorist incidents had largely been condemnation rather than decisive action.
“Earlier, whenever terrorists or Pakistani elements attacked our forces, be it the 26/11 attacks, the March 12 incident, the Ghatkopar blasts, the Gateway of India blasts, or the serial train blasts, we only condemned them and never responded effectively. Unless we set this narrative of giving a strong response instead of just condemning, the enemy will keep attacking us. You can see that Government in power in 2014 Since the arrival, there has been no such bombing. Incidents,” he told reporters.
Jaiswal said that since 2014, when Pakistan attempted hostile acts, the Modi government and the armed forces have provided an “appropriate response”.
Shiv Sena MP Milind Deora also supported PM Modi’s remarks and told IANS that previous governments were in a state of confusion in dealing with various violent elements.
“I would only say this: In the past, there used to be confusion in dealing with anti-social elements – whether they are terrorist organizations, domestic terrorist groups, foreign terrorist organizations, or left-wing extremist organizations. There was confusion within the government. Today, that confusion no longer exists. The Prime Minister’s view is very clear: To ensure national security, any person, individual or organization that tries to destabilize India and indulges in violence will be punished. “Will be dealt with strictly.”
Deora argued that the country is now safer. He said, “Whether it is Mumbai or any other corner of India, we are safe from terrorism. The entire credit for this goes to Prime Minister Modi. Under his leadership, our anti-terrorism capabilities have increased significantly. The biggest difference between the previous government and the Modi government is political will.”
However, the Congress rejected the Prime Minister’s comments and said that if the BJP-led government had not “bowed down” to the US after Operation Sindoor, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) should have been reclaimed.
Speaking to IANS, Udit Raj asked, “Under whose pressure did the Modi government stop the attack on Pakistan?”
Referring to Operation Sindoor, Raj said, “He (PM Modi) was saying that Pakistan is on the verge of destruction. If it was so then PoK should have been taken. Trump gave an ultimatum of 24 hours and he surrendered within six hours. This is Prime Minister Modi. In February 2025, he happily went to America to meet Trump, but there Trump called him a thief…he could not say anything. Trump said this 40-50 times. There was a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, but did the Prime Minister deny it even once?”
–IANS
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