Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, Nov 13: Days after the Red Fort terror attack that claimed 12 lives and injured several others, a political storm has erupted with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accusing senior Congress leader and former Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram of providing “cover fire” to terrorists through his comments on home-grown extremism.
BJP spokesperson Pradip Bhandari launched a sharp attack on Chidambaram, questioning the Congress party’s stance on national security.
“Why is the Congress giving soft support and cover fire to terrorists in the Red Fort blast case? A terrorist is a terrorist! No circumstance justifies an act of terror,” Bhandari asserted.
His remarks came in response to Chidambaram’s recent statement urging an examination of the causes behind domestic radicalisation.
Referring to his past comments made during a parliamentary debate on Operation Sindoor, Chidambaram said, “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.”
He further added, “The point of this tweet is we should ask ourselves what are the circumstances that turn Indian citizens, even educated persons, into terrorists.”
Chidambaram’s remarks have since drawn strong reactions from the ruling party, with the BJP accusing him of “rationalising” acts of terror instead of unequivocally condemning them.
Probe into Red Fort Blast Intensifies
The political exchange comes even as central agencies continue their investigation into Monday’s Red Fort blast, which authorities have classified as a terror attack.
At least 12 people were killed and more than 30 injured in a powerful explosion near Gate No. 1 of the Red Fort Metro Station around 6:55 pm. The blast, which ripped through a white Hyundai i20 car, triggered a fire that engulfed nearby vehicles.
Preliminary reports suggest that high-grade explosives were used. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) and Delhi Police Special Cell are jointly probing the case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Explosive Substances Act.
According to sources, CCTV footage shows the suspect vehicle parked for nearly three hours before the explosion. Investigators are now tracing possible terror network links behind the attack.