Aren’t you ashamed?: Shah on Chidambaram’s ‘homegrown terrorists’ remark
In a scathing attack, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday criticized Congress leader P Chidambaram for his remarks on the Pahalgam attack, where Chidambaram questioned the assumption that the terrorists involved in the attack were from Pakistan. Shah, in a sharp retort, asked Chidambaram who he was trying to protect and expressed his shame at Chidambaram’s comments.
The controversy began when Chidambaram, in an interview, said, “Why are we assuming Pahalgam attack terrorists were from Pakistan, they could be homegrown as well?” His remark sparked widespread outrage, with many interpreting it as an attempt to downplay the role of Pakistan-based terror outfits in perpetrating violence in India.
Shah, in a strong response, asked Chidambaram to explain his statement, saying, “Today, I want to ask him, who was he trying to protect? Pakistan? Lashkar-e-Taiba? Or the terrorists themselves?” He went on to say, “Aren’t you ashamed of this?” Shah’s remarks were seen as a direct challenge to Chidambaram’s statement, which many felt was an attempt to undermine India’s efforts to tackle terrorism.
The Pahalgam attack, which occurred on August 1, 2017, was a brutal terrorist attack that left eight people dead, including a police officer, and injured several others. The attack was carried out by terrorists who were believed to have infiltrated from Pakistan. The attack was widely condemned by the international community, and India has repeatedly accused Pakistan of sponsoring terrorism in the region.
Shah’s criticism of Chidambaram’s statement is not the first time that the two leaders have clashed on the issue of terrorism. In the past, Shah has been vocal about his criticism of Congress’s handling of terrorism, accusing the party of being soft on terror and failing to take effective measures to prevent attacks.
Chidambaram’s remarks, however, have sparked a debate on the role of homegrown terrorism in India. While some have argued that the threat of homegrown terrorism is real and needs to be taken seriously, others have pointed out that Chidambaram’s statement was an attempt to downplay the role of Pakistan-based terror outfits and create a false narrative about the nature of the threat.
The debate is timely, given the recent surge in terrorist attacks in India. In the past few years, India has faced a number of attacks, including the Pulwama attack in February 2019, which killed 40 CRPF personnel. The attack was carried out by a Pakistan-based terrorist group, and India has repeatedly accused Pakistan of sponsoring terrorism.
The government has taken several measures to tackle terrorism, including the formation of the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) and the establishment of the Intelligence Bureau’s (IB) Anti-Terrorism Squads (ATS). The government has also increased security measures at vulnerable locations and has launched a number of operations against terrorist groups.
Despite these efforts, terrorism remains a significant threat to India’s national security. The country continues to face attacks from Pakistan-based terror outfits, and the threat of homegrown terrorism is a growing concern. In this context, Chidambaram’s statement was seen as an attempt to downplay the threat of terrorism and undermine India’s efforts to tackle it.
Shah’s criticism of Chidambaram’s statement is a reminder that the issue of terrorism is not a partisan one, and that all political parties need to work together to address this threat. The Home Minister’s statement is a warning to those who seek to downplay the threat of terrorism and undermine India’s efforts to tackle it.
In conclusion, Shah’s criticism of Chidambaram’s statement is a timely reminder of the need for political parties to work together to address the threat of terrorism. While Chidambaram’s statement may have sparked a debate, it is clear that the threat of terrorism is real and needs to be taken seriously. The government and all political parties need to work together to address this threat and ensure the safety and security of the people of India.
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