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Last Updated:<\/span>October 01, 2025, 15:25 IST<\/time><\/p>\nRashid Alvi says Chidambaram\u2019s comments on US pressure during 26\/11 could help BJP and questioned their timing.<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/p>\nFormer Home Minister P Chidambaram\u2019s admission that military action was considered but not pursued sparks internal Congress criticism. (IMAGE: REIUTERS FILE)<\/p>\n<\/figure>\nCongress leader Rashid Alvi has accused members within the party of weakening it, following P. Chidambaram\u2019s recent remarks that the UPA government did not retaliate against Pakistan after the 26\/11 Mumbai attacks due to international pressure.<\/p>\nAlvi questioned why Chidambaram made the claim 16 years later, asking if it implied that he had acted under US pressure. \u201cSuch a statement will only benefit the BJP. If he disagreed at that time, he should have resigned,” Alvi said while speaking to IANS<\/em>, describing the internal dissent as akin to \u201ca house catching fire because of its own lamp.” Chidambaram had admitted that thoughts of retribution crossed his mind, but the government ultimately decided against military action.<\/p>\nP Chidambaram in an interview with a news channel claimed that the \u201cwhole descended upon New Delhi” to urge it to not go into a war with Pakistan following the coordinated terror attacks that claimed the lives of 175 people in Mumbai 26\/11 attacks. <\/p>\n\n\nDelhi: On former Union Minister P. Chidambaram’s ‘US stopped from retaliating after 26\/11 attacks’ statement, Congress leader Rashid Alvi says, “Does this mean he was working under U.S. pressure? Such a statement will only benefit the BJP. Why is Chidambaram making this claim\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/nCaeD4pFwG<\/a>\u2014 IANS (@ians_india) October 1, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\u201cTwo or three days after I took over, Condoleezza Rice came to meet me and the prime minister and asked us \u2018please don\u2019t react\u2019. I told her this was a decision the government would take. Without disclosing any official secret, I will say an act of retribution did cross my mind,” Chidambaram told a Hindi broadcaster during the interview.<\/p>\n\u201cThe prime minister discussed possible military retaliation even while the attack was under way. The conclusion, shaped largely by the External Affairs Ministry and the Indian Foreign Service, was that we should not respond militarily.”<\/p>\nThe Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) slammed Chidambaram, saying his admission came \u201ca little too late.” Union Minister Pralhad Joshi added that the former Home Minister had effectively confirmed what the country already knew\u2014that the government had handled the Mumbai attacks under pressure from foreign powers.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<\/span><\/p>\nShankhyaneel Sarkar<\/a><\/p>\nShankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev…Read More<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nShankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev… Read More<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nFirst Published:<\/span><\/p>\n\nOctober 01, 2025, 15:13 IST<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nNews<\/a> politics<\/a> Chidambaram’s 26\/11 \u2018US Pressure\u2019 Remark Sparks Congress Infighting: ‘House Catching Fire…\u2019<\/span><\/div>\n\n\nDisclaimer: Comments reflect users\u2019 views, not News18\u2019s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use<\/a> and Privacy Policy<\/a>.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nRead More<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Former Home Minister P Chidambaram\u2019s admission that military action was considered but not pursued sparks internal Congress criticism. (IMAGE: REIUTERS FILE)<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n
Congress leader Rashid Alvi has accused members within the party of weakening it, following P. Chidambaram\u2019s recent remarks that the UPA government did not retaliate against Pakistan after the 26\/11 Mumbai attacks due to international pressure.<\/p>\n
Alvi questioned why Chidambaram made the claim 16 years later, asking if it implied that he had acted under US pressure. \u201cSuch a statement will only benefit the BJP. If he disagreed at that time, he should have resigned,” Alvi said while speaking to IANS<\/em>, describing the internal dissent as akin to \u201ca house catching fire because of its own lamp.” Chidambaram had admitted that thoughts of retribution crossed his mind, but the government ultimately decided against military action.<\/p>\nP Chidambaram in an interview with a news channel claimed that the \u201cwhole descended upon New Delhi” to urge it to not go into a war with Pakistan following the coordinated terror attacks that claimed the lives of 175 people in Mumbai 26\/11 attacks. <\/p>\n\n\nDelhi: On former Union Minister P. Chidambaram’s ‘US stopped from retaliating after 26\/11 attacks’ statement, Congress leader Rashid Alvi says, “Does this mean he was working under U.S. pressure? Such a statement will only benefit the BJP. Why is Chidambaram making this claim\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/nCaeD4pFwG<\/a>\u2014 IANS (@ians_india) October 1, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\u201cTwo or three days after I took over, Condoleezza Rice came to meet me and the prime minister and asked us \u2018please don\u2019t react\u2019. I told her this was a decision the government would take. Without disclosing any official secret, I will say an act of retribution did cross my mind,” Chidambaram told a Hindi broadcaster during the interview.<\/p>\n\u201cThe prime minister discussed possible military retaliation even while the attack was under way. The conclusion, shaped largely by the External Affairs Ministry and the Indian Foreign Service, was that we should not respond militarily.”<\/p>\nThe Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) slammed Chidambaram, saying his admission came \u201ca little too late.” Union Minister Pralhad Joshi added that the former Home Minister had effectively confirmed what the country already knew\u2014that the government had handled the Mumbai attacks under pressure from foreign powers.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<\/span><\/p>\nShankhyaneel Sarkar<\/a><\/p>\nShankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev…Read More<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nShankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev… Read More<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nFirst Published:<\/span><\/p>\n\nOctober 01, 2025, 15:13 IST<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nNews<\/a> politics<\/a> Chidambaram’s 26\/11 \u2018US Pressure\u2019 Remark Sparks Congress Infighting: ‘House Catching Fire…\u2019<\/span><\/div>\n\n\nDisclaimer: Comments reflect users\u2019 views, not News18\u2019s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use<\/a> and Privacy Policy<\/a>.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nRead More<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
P Chidambaram in an interview with a news channel claimed that the \u201cwhole descended upon New Delhi” to urge it to not go into a war with Pakistan following the coordinated terror attacks that claimed the lives of 175 people in Mumbai 26\/11 attacks. <\/p>\n
\nDelhi: On former Union Minister P. Chidambaram’s ‘US stopped from retaliating after 26\/11 attacks’ statement, Congress leader Rashid Alvi says, “Does this mean he was working under U.S. pressure? Such a statement will only benefit the BJP. Why is Chidambaram making this claim\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/nCaeD4pFwG<\/a>\u2014 IANS (@ians_india) October 1, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\u201cTwo or three days after I took over, Condoleezza Rice came to meet me and the prime minister and asked us \u2018please don\u2019t react\u2019. I told her this was a decision the government would take. Without disclosing any official secret, I will say an act of retribution did cross my mind,” Chidambaram told a Hindi broadcaster during the interview.<\/p>\n\u201cThe prime minister discussed possible military retaliation even while the attack was under way. The conclusion, shaped largely by the External Affairs Ministry and the Indian Foreign Service, was that we should not respond militarily.”<\/p>\nThe Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) slammed Chidambaram, saying his admission came \u201ca little too late.” Union Minister Pralhad Joshi added that the former Home Minister had effectively confirmed what the country already knew\u2014that the government had handled the Mumbai attacks under pressure from foreign powers.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<\/span><\/p>\nShankhyaneel Sarkar<\/a><\/p>\nShankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev…Read More<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nShankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev… Read More<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nFirst Published:<\/span><\/p>\n\nOctober 01, 2025, 15:13 IST<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nNews<\/a> politics<\/a> Chidambaram’s 26\/11 \u2018US Pressure\u2019 Remark Sparks Congress Infighting: ‘House Catching Fire…\u2019<\/span><\/div>\n\n\nDisclaimer: Comments reflect users\u2019 views, not News18\u2019s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use<\/a> and Privacy Policy<\/a>.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nRead More<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Delhi: On former Union Minister P. Chidambaram’s ‘US stopped from retaliating after 26\/11 attacks’ statement, Congress leader Rashid Alvi says, “Does this mean he was working under U.S. pressure? Such a statement will only benefit the BJP. Why is Chidambaram making this claim\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/nCaeD4pFwG<\/a>\u2014 IANS (@ians_india) October 1, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\u201cTwo or three days after I took over, Condoleezza Rice came to meet me and the prime minister and asked us \u2018please don\u2019t react\u2019. I told her this was a decision the government would take. Without disclosing any official secret, I will say an act of retribution did cross my mind,” Chidambaram told a Hindi broadcaster during the interview.<\/p>\n\u201cThe prime minister discussed possible military retaliation even while the attack was under way. The conclusion, shaped largely by the External Affairs Ministry and the Indian Foreign Service, was that we should not respond militarily.”<\/p>\nThe Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) slammed Chidambaram, saying his admission came \u201ca little too late.” Union Minister Pralhad Joshi added that the former Home Minister had effectively confirmed what the country already knew\u2014that the government had handled the Mumbai attacks under pressure from foreign powers.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<\/span><\/p>\nShankhyaneel Sarkar<\/a><\/p>\nShankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev…Read More<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nShankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev… Read More<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nFirst Published:<\/span><\/p>\n\nOctober 01, 2025, 15:13 IST<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nNews<\/a> politics<\/a> Chidambaram’s 26\/11 \u2018US Pressure\u2019 Remark Sparks Congress Infighting: ‘House Catching Fire…\u2019<\/span><\/div>\n\n\nDisclaimer: Comments reflect users\u2019 views, not News18\u2019s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use<\/a> and Privacy Policy<\/a>.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nRead More<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cTwo or three days after I took over, Condoleezza Rice came to meet me and the prime minister and asked us \u2018please don\u2019t react\u2019. I told her this was a decision the government would take. Without disclosing any official secret, I will say an act of retribution did cross my mind,” Chidambaram told a Hindi broadcaster during the interview.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe prime minister discussed possible military retaliation even while the attack was under way. The conclusion, shaped largely by the External Affairs Ministry and the Indian Foreign Service, was that we should not respond militarily.”<\/p>\n
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) slammed Chidambaram, saying his admission came \u201ca little too late.” Union Minister Pralhad Joshi added that the former Home Minister had effectively confirmed what the country already knew\u2014that the government had handled the Mumbai attacks under pressure from foreign powers.<\/p>\n
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Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev…Read More<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nShankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev… Read More<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nFirst Published:<\/span><\/p>\n\nOctober 01, 2025, 15:13 IST<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nNews<\/a> politics<\/a> Chidambaram’s 26\/11 \u2018US Pressure\u2019 Remark Sparks Congress Infighting: ‘House Catching Fire…\u2019<\/span><\/div>\n\n\nDisclaimer: Comments reflect users\u2019 views, not News18\u2019s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use<\/a> and Privacy Policy<\/a>.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nRead More<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev… Read More<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nFirst Published:<\/span><\/p>\n\nOctober 01, 2025, 15:13 IST<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nNews<\/a> politics<\/a> Chidambaram’s 26\/11 \u2018US Pressure\u2019 Remark Sparks Congress Infighting: ‘House Catching Fire…\u2019<\/span><\/div>\n\n\nDisclaimer: Comments reflect users\u2019 views, not News18\u2019s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use<\/a> and Privacy Policy<\/a>.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nRead More<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
October 01, 2025, 15:13 IST<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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