Senior Congress leader and former Union home minister P. Chidambaram’s remarks on the Pahalgam terror attack have triggered a sharp political exchange with the ruling BJP.
Chidambaram questioned the government’s narrative around the attack, suggesting that there was “no evidence” yet made public to conclusively prove that the attackers were Pakistani nationals. His comments drew an immediate and strong response from BJP leaders, who accused the Congress veteran of “giving a clean chit” to Pakistan.
The controversy erupted just hours before Parliament was scheduled to hold a 16-hour debate on Operation Sindoor, India’s military response to the Pahalgam terror strike.
Chidambaram’s Statement
In an interview with The Quint, Chidambaram raised doubts over the ongoing investigation into the July attack, in which multiple civilians and security personnel were killed. He argued that the Modi government needed to provide concrete evidence to the international community if it intended to hold Pakistan accountable.
“Why have you not apprehended [the terrorists]? Why have you not even identified them?” Chidambaram asked, pointing to what he called “inadequate disclosure” by investigating agencies.
The former minister’s comments, particularly the phrase “no evidence,” were widely circulated online, prompting the BJP to accuse him of echoing Pakistan’s stance.
BJP’s Response
BJP’s IT cell head Amit Malviya lashed out on social media, stating:
“Once again, the Congress rushes to give a clean chit to Pakistan,” while sharing a clipped portion of Chidambaram’s interview.
The BJP maintained that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has already confirmed that the terrorists involved were Pakistani nationals linked to the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) group, even if their names have not been publicly disclosed yet.
Chidambaram Defends Himself
Reacting to the uproar, Chidambaram accused BJP supporters of deliberately misrepresenting his words.
“The worst kind [of troll] is one who suppresses the full recorded interview, takes two sentences, mutes some words, and paints the speaker in a black colour!” he posted on X, formerly Twitter.
His son, Karti Chidambaram, also defended him, urging people to watch the full interview before drawing conclusions.
NIA’s Position
According to the NIA, two local individuals have been arrested in connection with the attack, and they have reportedly disclosed the identities of three Pakistani attackers. However, the agency has stated that it will reveal full details “at an appropriate time” due to ongoing security operations.
The timing of Chidambaram’s remarks — coinciding with a heated parliamentary debate on Operation Sindoor — has added to the political tension between the government and the Opposition.
