BJP leader Pradeep Bhandari has launched a sharp attack on the Congress party, accusing it of displaying a pro-terror approach following the extradition of Tahawwur Rana—an accused in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. In a series of strong remarks, Pradeep Bhandari questioned Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s silence on the matter, and also alleged that members close to him, including Kanhaiya Kumar, have mocked the extradition, exposing what he calls the party’s soft stand towards terrorism-linked individuals.
Pradeep Bhandari did not mince words in targeting the Congress. He labelled it a “pro-terror party,” and claimed its top leaders have a history of supporting individuals with terrorist links. Referring to Kanhaiya Kumar as Rahul Gandhi’s “right-hand man,” Pradeep Bhandari accused him of ridiculing the extradition of Tahawwur Rana, suggesting that such reactions reveal the mindset of the Congress ecosystem. He also brought up the past conduct of senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh, alleging that Singh had tried to shield Pakistani terrorists in the aftermath of the 26/11 attacks.
Rahul Gandhi’s silence questioned
Pradeep Bhandari continued his attack by directly questioning Rahul Gandhi’s silence. “Why is Rahul Gandhi, who usually comments on every major issue, so quiet now?” he asked. According to Pradeep Bhandari, the reason lies in Congress’s discomfort with Tahawwur Rana’s extradition, which may potentially expose secrets linked to the party’s past conduct. He also mentioned former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, citing a controversial public statement where Singh had reportedly said he was proud that India did not carry out a surgical strike after the 26/11 attacks.
Tahawwur Rana’s arrival in India
Tahawwur Rana, 64, a Canadian citizen originally from Pakistan, was extradited to India on April 10 to face trial over his alleged involvement in the 2008 Mumbai attacks orchestrated by Lashkar-e-Taiba. He faces 10 criminal charges including conspiracy, murder, commission of a terrorist act, and forgery. Once brought to India, Tahawwur Rana was produced before a National Investigation Agency (NIA) court, which remanded him to 18 days of custody.
The BJP sees his extradition as a significant moment in India’s counter-terrorism efforts, while alleging that the Congress is uneasy about the development due to its political past and perceived vote-bank compulsions.
