P. Chidambaram, the former Union Home Minister, has strongly criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent statements regarding the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, labeling them "terribly wrong" and "disappointing". The Congress leader refuted PM Modi's claims that Chidambaram had admitted India was prepared to strike Pakistan after the 26/11 attacks but was stopped by the then UPA government due to "foreign pressure".

Chidambaram took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his dismay. Quoting PM Modi's words as reported in the Times of India, Chidambaram highlighted three parts of the statement, asserting that each one was wrong. He stated it was disappointing that the Prime Minister "imagined the words and attributed them to me".

PM Modi, speaking at the inauguration of the Navi Mumbai International Airport, had accused Congress of preventing a military strike on Pakistan following the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, allegedly due to "foreign pressure". He did not directly name Chidambaram in his remarks but alluded to a recent interview given by the Congress leader. PM Modi urged the Congress to reveal who decided to stop the security forces from attacking Pakistan under foreign influence, stating that the nation has the right to know. He also accused the UPA government of sending "a message of weakness" after the attacks.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) swiftly responded to Chidambaram's remarks, launching a counter-attack that targeted Sonia Gandhi, the former President of the Indian National Congress. BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari urged Chidambaram to "stop protecting Sonia Gandhi's soft stance on terror". Bhandari quoted Chidambaram's previous statement that the UPA government didn't retaliate against Pakistan after 26/11 because the Ministry of External Affairs was against it, and the US Secretary of State Rice told them not to go to war.

The BJP has repeatedly accused the UPA government, led by then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, of being a "puppet in the hands of foreign powers". They allege that Sonia Gandhi controlled Manmohan Singh, while foreign powers controlled Sonia. BJP MP Sambit Patra referenced Natwar Singh's autobiography, claiming that cabinet decisions were made after consulting the US, and accusing Sonia Gandhi of protecting Pakistan.

These recent exchanges are part of a long-standing debate regarding India's response to the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. The BJP has consistently criticized the Congress-led UPA government for its alleged inaction and subservience to foreign pressure, while the Congress defends its decisions as being made in the best interests of the country, considering the complex geopolitical landscape at the time.

The political sparring has intensified in recent weeks, with both sides citing past statements and actions to support their respective narratives. The BJP aims to portray the Congress as weak on national security, while the Congress accuses the BJP of distorting facts for political gain. The legacy of the 26/11 attacks continues to be a contentious issue in Indian politics, shaping the rhetoric and strategies of the major political parties.