As the extradition of 26/11 terror accused Tahawwur Rana moves forward, Union Minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday took a sharp jab at the Congress party, accusing it of inaction during its tenure and praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s unwavering commitment to bringing perpetrators of terror to justice.
Recalling the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks that killed 166 people, Goyal slammed the then UPA government for allegedly being soft on terrorists. “During Congress’ time, the terrorists attacked the very hotel we are standing in. People died here. However, Congress didn’t do anything to punish those involved. The one who was caught, Kasab, was served Biryani,” Goyal said while speaking to ANI.
He emphasized that the extradition of Rana reflects PM Modi’s strong resolve to punish those who attack India. “This is PM Modi’s determination — to ensure that terrorists like Rana are brought back and tried on Indian soil. Every Indian is proud today,” he added.
Goyal also hit out at Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) for what he described as “appeasement politics”, alleging that the INDIA bloc lacks constructive vision. “Sanjay Raut would defend someone just because they belong to a certain religion, even if they’re involved in serious crimes. Uddhav Thackeray’s Sena has outdone even the Congress in appeasement politics,” he said.
Senior Advocate Majeed Memon echoed the significance of Rana’s extradition, calling it a milestone in the fight against terrorism. He emphasized the need for a fair trial, similar to that of Ajmal Kasab, who was sentenced to death following a transparent judicial process. “The 26/11 attacks cannot be forgotten. It’s a victory for India that such a heinous terrorist will now face Indian courts,” Memon said.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah also described the extradition as a “major diplomatic win” for the Modi government during his address at the Network18 Rising Bharat conclave.
Trial court records from Mumbai naming Tahawwur Rana and David Coleman Headley as accused were recently transferred to Delhi’s Patiala House Court upon the National Investigation Agency’s (NIA) request.
Rana, a Pakistani-Canadian national, was previously convicted in the US for aiding Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives — the group responsible for the Mumbai carnage. His extradition is seen as a crucial step toward justice for the victims and their families.
The Central government has appointed advocate Narender Mann as Special Public Prosecutor to lead the prosecution in the upcoming trial.
