NEW DELHI: A political war of words broke out on Saturday over the extradition of 26/11 Mumbai attacks accused Tahawwur Rana to India, with Congress leader Digvijaya Singh crediting the UPA government for laying the groundwork, and Shiv Sena leader Shaina NC slamming the remark as “appeasement politics.”
Rana, 64, a Canadian citizen and native of Pakistan, was extradited to stand trial in India on 10 criminal charges stemming from his alleged role and accused of being a key conspirator in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks that left over 170 dead.
Speaking to ANI, senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh said, “Iski shuruwat Congress ne ki thi… isme koi shrey Modi ji ko nahi jata hai.” He asserted that the extradition was possible only because the Congress-led UPA government had ensured Rana was named in the investigation at the right time, leading to his arrest in the United States. “Tahawwur Rana was involved in the 26/11 attacks, and his extradition was possible only because UPA govt put his name in the investigation at the right time and he was arrested in the US. After completing 14 years of imprisonment, he was extradited to India,” Singh said.
Reacting strongly, Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) leader Shaina NC said, “This is not the first time that Digvijaya Singh or the Congress Party have made controversial statements. But look at the track record of the Congress party. Digvijaya Singh tried to link this (26/11 terrorist attacks) to the Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh (RSS).”
Calling the extradition a “matter of pride for India,” she credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s diplomacy. “Since 2019, diplomatic ties that Prime Minister Modi has been persevering with the United States, we have had the extradition of Tahawwur Rana, who is the mastermind of 26/11. For all those people who lost their lives, they’re probably looking at the Congress Party and wondering about its vote bank, appeasement politics and its ideology,” she said.
Earlier this week, former Union home minister and senior Congress leader P Chidambaram also weighed in, accusing the Modi government of taking undue credit for the development. In a statement issued on April 10, he said: “In February 2025, Prime Minister Modi and President Trump stood at a press conference and tried to take credit for what was essentially the result of years of UPA-era groundwork. By February 17, Indian officials confirmed Rana’s role in the 26/11 conspiracy, dating back to 2005, when he coordinated with LeT and ISI operatives. Finally, on April 8, 2025, US authorities handed Rana over to Indian officials. He arrived in New Delhi on April 10.”