Navi Mumbai, October 8, 2025 – Prime Minister Narendra Modi today launched a strong attack against the Congress party, criticizing their response to the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks and asserting that their "weakness" had emboldened terrorists. Speaking at the inauguration of the Navi Mumbai International Airport, Modi questioned why the Congress failed to take decisive action against those responsible for the attacks, which he said projected an image of a weak response to national security threats.
Modi stated that India can never forget the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack. He further added that India should have responded at the time of the attacks, stating that the whole world would have supported the country. He went on to say that such a response required courage. According to Modi, all evidence pointed towards terrorist handlers in Pakistan, proving their guilt, but Delhi remained cold. He claimed reports indicated that Indian forces were ready to avenge the terror attack, but were not allowed to take any action.
The Prime Minister accused the Congress of being soft on terror to appease its vote banks. He cited instances such as the Batla House encounter, where he claimed a senior Congress leader was seen weeping when terrorists were neutralized. Modi portrayed this as appeasement in its most shameful form and also referenced a Congress leader who advocated giving terrorist Afzal Guru the benefit of doubt after the Parliament attack in 2001.
Modi also accused Congress of hatching a conspiracy and coining the theory of "saffron terrorism" to blame innocent Hindus and put them in jail. He also referred to a reported incident where a Congress leader allegedly told a US diplomat that Hindu organizations were more dangerous than Lashkar-e-Taiba.
Modi contrasted the current government's approach with that of previous regimes led by Congress, claiming that under the BJP rule, India has demonstrated both the will and capability to strike back decisively at terrorism. He stated that before 2014, the country was gripped by fear, with frequent terror alerts and citizens left to fend for their own safety.
The Prime Minister's remarks come amidst heightened focus on national security and the government's efforts to strengthen India's defense capabilities. Modi highlighted his government's commitment to making India a global aviation MRO hub and noted the significant increase in the number of airports since 2014. He challenged the Congress to reveal who prevented India's military response after the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.
The 26/11 Mumbai attacks, which occurred on November 26, 2008, saw 10 terrorists from Lashkar-e-Toiba, a Pakistan-based terror group, carry out coordinated attacks in Mumbai, resulting in at least 166 deaths and over 300 injuries. The attacks remain a scar on India's collective memory and a reminder of the importance of vigilance against terrorism.
