New Delhi: Former Home Minister P. Chidambaram has criticized the central government's "discreet silence" regarding the rise of "homegrown terrorism" in India, following a recent bomb blast in Delhi. The blast, which occurred near the Lal Quila Metro station, resulted in 12 fatalities and numerous injuries.

Chidambaram's statement comes in the wake of the Delhi blast and the subsequent arrests of individuals, including educated professionals, allegedly involved in the terror plot. He took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his concerns, referencing his previous statements made before and after the Pahalgam terror attack, emphasizing the existence of both "foreign-trained infiltrated terrorists and home-grown terrorists".

He recalled a debate in Parliament surrounding "Operation Sindoor," during which his remarks on homegrown terrorism were met with mockery and trolling. Despite the criticism, Chidambaram noted that the government maintained a "discreet silence" on the issue, suggesting an acknowledgment of the presence of homegrown terrorists within the country.

"I have maintained before and after the Pahalgam terror attack that there are two kinds of terrorists — foreign-trained infiltrated terrorists and home-grown terrorists. I said so in Parliament during the debate on Operation Sindoor. I was mocked and trolled for the reference to home-grown terrorists," Chidambaram stated. "However, I must say that the government observed a discreet silence because the government knows that there are home-grown terrorists too. The point of this tweet is we should ask ourselves what are the circumstances that turn Indian citizens — even educated persons — into terrorists".

The arrests in the Delhi blast case have brought renewed attention to Chidambaram's concerns. Those apprehended include doctors Muzammil Ganaie, Adeel Ahmad Rather, Shaheen Shahid, and Umar Un Nabi, who are allegedly connected to a Faridabad-based terror module with links to Jaish-e-Mohammed.

Chidambaram's earlier statements regarding homegrown terrorism and Operation Sindoor had also ignited political debates. In July 2025, ahead of a Parliament debate on Operation Sindoor, Chidambaram questioned the official narrative surrounding the Pahalgam attack, suggesting the attackers could have been "homegrown terrorists". He questioned the lack of evidence pointing to Pakistan's involvement, drawing sharp criticism from the BJP, who accused him of giving a "clean chit" to Pakistan.

The BJP's IT cell head, Amit Malviya, accused Chidambaram of echoing Pakistan's defense and undermining national security. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla went further, alleging Congress was siding with Pakistan.

Operation Sindoor was launched following the Pahalgam massacre, in which 26 civilians were killed. Chidambaram has accused the government of concealing details about the operation and the losses India suffered. He argued that transparency regarding losses is essential, referencing Winston Churchill's approach during World War II.

Chidambaram also questioned the Prime Minister's silence on Operation Sindoor and the reluctance to have a debate in Parliament. He criticized the government's decision to agree to a ceasefire after Operation Sindoor, contrasting it with the surrender of Pakistani forces in the India-Pakistan war over Bangladesh. He alluded that China and Pakistan have created "fused fronts". He has also criticized the government for its alleged failure to defend officials who were trolled for carrying out government instructions related to Operation Sindoor.

The issue of homegrown terrorism is not new. In 2011, as Home Minister, Chidambaram indicated that the Delhi High Court blast could have been the work of homegrown militant groups. He stated that India could no longer solely attribute terror attacks to cross-border terrorism.