BJP MP Sambit Patra Criticizes Congress Leadership Over 26/11 Response

Sambit Patra's Strong Remarks on Congress Leaders

BJP MP Sambit Patra launched a fierce critique against Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and P. Chidambaram regarding India's response to the 26/11 Mumbai terrorist attacks. Patra stated in an interview that Sonia Gandhi had instructed against taking action against Pakistan, claiming she had bent India to accommodate Pakistan's interests. He accused her of making a decision to refrain from any retaliatory measures against Pakistan and criticized the Congress party for being influenced by foreign powers.

 

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Patra further referenced Natwar Singh's autobiography, which suggested that Sonia Gandhi would determine the names of Indian cabinet ministers after consulting with the United States. He quoted Singh's belief that 'I will not let my country rise.' Patra questioned Chidambaram's recent comments about foreign pressure influencing India's lack of response to Pakistan after the 26/11 attacks, pointing out that Chidambaram was part of the decision-making process under Sonia Gandhi's leadership.

He remarked that the Congress party decided against any action towards Pakistan simply because 'the whole world had descended upon Delhi.' This was during the Gandhi family's rule, and he suggested that such a decision must have been made unlawfully and unconstitutionally by Sonia Gandhi, who likely directed Manmohan Singh and then Home Minister Chidambaram. The attacks by the Pakistan-based terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba resulted in over 170 fatalities, leaving the nation in shock.

Chidambaram's revelations have sparked a new political debate, with critics questioning the previous decisions made by Congress leadership. Speaking on a podcast, he discussed how the decision-making process within the government and international diplomatic pressures, particularly from the United States, influenced India's stance. Chidambaram recalled taking office as Home Minister on November 30, 2008, just a day after the attacks and immediately following Shivraj Patil's resignation.

 

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Chidambaram mentioned on the Inside Out podcast, "I became Home Minister the day after the attacks. Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh called me to transfer me from the Finance Ministry to the Home Ministry. When I initially refused, I was informed that Congress President Mrs. Gandhi (Sonia Gandhi) had already made the decision. I requested to speak with her, but was told she was out of town. I was instructed to assume office the next morning."