While addressing the Parliament on Tuesday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah responded to Congress leader P. Chidambaram‘s recent remarks, with some very strong statements. Shah said that the Congress had questioned where the Pahalgam attackers had came from and who was responsible, and he acknowledged that it is indeed the duty of the ruling government to give answers. However, he slammed Chidambaram, who had earlier asked what proof there was that the terrorists involved in Pahalgam attack came from Pakistan. Shah questioned why Chidambaram seemed to be defending Pakistan and said such statements appear to clear Pakistan of any blame.
‘We have proof’: Shah gives details in Parliament Monsoon Session
Directly addressing Chidambaram, Shah asked, “What will you get by saving Pakistan? Who are you trying to save?” He further added, “I want to tell him we have the proof that all 3 terrorists were from Pakistan.”
Shah said that the three terrorists who were killed in Operation Mahadev on Monday were all behind the deadly Pahalgam attack. He said that they were indeed from Pakistan because the proof that they had found “screamed” so. Shah said that the voter IDs, rifles and even the chocolates that were found in the recovered things were all from Pakistan and that the terrorists were indeed from the neighbouring country.
Shah further added that the NIA had already arrested those who sheltered and helped the terrorists. When the terrorists’ bodies were brought to Srinagar, they were identified as the same men involved in the Pahalgam terror attack. The forensic report of the cartridges used in the attack was already prepared, and the rifles recovered from the terrorists matched those in the report. Further tests were done in Chandigarh, which confirmed that these three were indeed responsible for the Pahalgam attack.
Shah went on to say why does Congress want to give a “clean chit” to Pakistan? He added that the masterminds behind the attack were eliminated in Operation Sindoor, and the ones who carried it out were killed in Operation Mahadev. He said that he expected both the ruling and Opposition parties to welcome this news, but instead, he felt the Opposition reacted negatively. He questioned the kind of politics being played in such a serious situation.
When Chidambaram questioned Pak link in Pahalgam attack
Chidambaram had earlier raised doubts about the Centre’s version of the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam. He questioned why the attackers had not been caught or properly identified yet. Although the government claimed the terrorists were from Pakistan, Chidambaram pointed out that no public proof had been shared. He said it was possible the attackers were not from Pakistan but were from within India. He also criticised the government for not being transparent, especially about what the National Investigation Agency (NIA) had found.
Chidambaram said the government should clearly show the evidence instead of making early claims for political reasons. He also accused the Centre of hiding the losses from Operation Sindoor — India’s military action after the attack. His comments led to strong reactions from the BJP and its allies. They accused him of defending Pakistan and weakening India’s position on cross-border terrorism.