Chidambaram says UPA laid groundwork for Tahawwur Rana’s extradition, criticises NDA for taking full credit

The extradition of Tahawwur Rana, a key conspirator in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, from the US has triggered a political dispute. The Congress has asserted that the extradition process began back in 2009 during the UPA regime, and therefore, the current NDA government should not claim full credit.

"Let the facts be clear: the Modi government did not initiate this process, nor did it secure any new breakthrough. It merely benefited from the mature, consistent, and strategic diplomacy begun under the UPA," former Union Minister P Chidambaram said in a statement earlier today.

"This extradition is not the result of any grandstanding, it is a testament to what the Indian state can achieve when diplomacy, law enforcement, and international cooperation are pursued sincerely and without any kind of chest-thumping," the statement added, listing out the measures taken since 2009 to bring both Rana and prime accused David Coleman Headley to justice.

Speaking to NDTV later in the evening, Mr Chidambaram stood by his comments. "They (the NDA government) can take credit for what they have done now. But they should also give credit to the previous government which has done a lot. The government of India is a continuity," he said in an exclusive interview.

He also reflected on how the counter-terror setup at the time was significantly underdeveloped. "We did not have an NIA, we did not have an NIA Act, there were weaknesses in the UAPA, and there were weaknesses in the intelligence set-up. So in the three years I was the Home Minister, I did my best to plug the apparatus and strengthen the weaknesses," he said. "I do not deny that the present government has built on that and further strengthened the apparatus," he added.

Emphasizing the evolving nature of terrorism, he remarked that "the terrorist is always half-a-step ahead of the administration," stressing the need for regular reviews of the counter-terror framework.

Rana, 64, was extradited from the US on Wednesday and landed in Delhi this evening. One of India's most wanted men for his alleged role in the 2008 attacks, he was brought in on a special flight and will now face trial in India.

In a statement released today, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) stated that Rana's extradition came after "years of sustained and concerted efforts to bring the key conspirator behind the 2008 mayhem to justice".

Following his arrival in Delhi, Rana was formally arrested by the NIA and produced in court.

Mr Chidambaram — a senior lawyer — noted that with a "dedicated public prosecutor and a conscientious judge'' the trial should not take more than six months, since India already possesses all the necessary evidence against him.