The
terrorist attack on Mumbai on November 26, 2008 is a deep wound in the history
of independent India. Mumbai is the financial capital of the country. A mere
handful of terrorists attacked this metropolis and had the city in a chokehold
for 5-6 days.
The
police, security and intelligence agencies of the central and state government
rendered helpless against a handful of terrorists. Even though our intelligence
agencies had received forewarning of this attack, why did these agencies not
take the necessary measures required to prevent this attack, why could the
country’s security agencies not immediately work to evict these terrorists from
the Taj Hotel?
Why
was there no necessary coordination between the security system, intelligence
agencies, and police departments? The answers to many such questions revealed
the obvious inaction of the then Congress government at the center and in the
state. After the Mumbai attacks, the then Air Force Chief Fali Major had
suggested attacking the terrorist bases in Pakistan.
However,
the then Congress government did not accept this suggestion by the Major.
This
attack ridiculed India on a global level. Tahawwur Rana, a 64-year-old Canadian
citizen of Pakistani origin, who was a major participant in this attack, was
recently brought to India.
The
Modi government has made unremitting efforts at the diplomatic level for the
last 10 years to bring Tahawwur Rana to India from US custody. These efforts
have finally been successful with Rana’s extradition.
This
is a major victory for the Modi government’s diplomacy. Rana’s arrest was
possible after a long legal battle in the US. Rana had appealed in various US
courts to avoid extradition. India also argued in the US Supreme Court, relying
on all legal means, and the US court ruled in India’s favor.
One
of the many resolutions made by the Modi government has been fulfilled with
Rana’s arrest. The sacrifices of heroes like Tukaram Omble, Sandeep
Unnikrishnan, among others, who were martyred during this attack, have been
made worthwhile with Rana’s arrest.
During
the 2004-2014 period, when the Congress-led UPA government under the leadership
of Manmohan Singh was in power, Pakistani terrorists were rampaging across the
country. Bomb blasts had become a routine.
The
central security system had failed miserably in thwarting terrorists. The
picture of Pakistani terrorists carrying out bomb blasts anywhere and anytime
they wanted and the Manmohan Singh government watching helplessly was seen
multiple times in the 10 years between 2004 to 2014.
This
culminated on 26 November 2008. After 2014, the Modi government made the
country’s internal security and intelligence agencies efficient and foiled many
attempts of terrorist attacks by Pakistani terrorists thereafter.
Two
attacks by terrorists were immediately given a befitting reply in the form of
surgical strikes and air strikes. The Modi government showed the world a
glimpse of what a powerful country looks like. Now it has become impossible for
Pakistani terrorists to enter India and carry out bomb blasts and attacks.
On
the one hand, by strengthening internal security and making the intelligence
agencies efficient, the Modi government thwarted many potential attack attempts
by terrorists. And at the same time, the Modi government also staked its
diplomatic strategy on how India would get possession of Tahawwur Rana, who was
responsible for the Mumbai attacks. India and the US had an agreement in 1997
to extradite criminals.
It is
under this agreement that the US has been forced to hand over Rana to India. In
September 2023, the Mumbai Police had filed a chargesheet in the Mumbai terror
attack case. In this chargesheet, the police have stated that Tahawwur Rana was
the mastermind of the Mumbai attacks.
This
415-page chargesheet details how both Tahawwur Rana and David Headley
infiltrated Pakistani terrorists in Mumbai and carried out attacks at different
places. Ajmal Kasab and other terrorists killed 166 people, including 6
American citizens, in the Mumbai attack. After his involvement in the attack
was revealed, India had officially demanded Rana’s arrest from the US on June
10, 2020. This is the first time in the history of independent India that an
American citizen has been extradited to India by a US court. Rana is now in the
custody of the NIA.
Rana
can reveal the involvement of many domestic and foreign forces behind the 26/11
terrorist attack. If that happens, many visible and invisible hands behind the
terrorist attack on Mumbai will be exposed.
As of
December 2024, India has signed extradition treaties with 48 countries. The
Modi government has requested extradition from 178 countries for involvement in
various terrorist activities in the country. Senior lawyer Dayan Krishnan
played a major role in bringing Rana to India through extradition. After Rana’s
arrest, our close neighbors, namely Pakistan, have waved their hands, saying
that they have no connection with Tahawwur Rana.
In
the last 11 years, we have often witnessed how the Modi government has made
India stronger and deterred extremist forces. There is no doubt that the
process will be carried out to the point of sentencing Rana, making proper use
of all the evidence now available. The Modi government has once again
demonstrated that terrorism will not be tolerated under any circumstances.
(Article
Pre-Published in Times of India Online – 14 April,
2025)
Keshav
Upadhye, Chief Spokesperson
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