Tahawwur Rana’s Extradition Revives Modi’s 2011 Critique, Sparks Political Debate

New Delhi, April 12, 2025 – The successful extradition of Tahawwur Hussain Rana, a key accused in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, has thrust a 2011 social media post by then-Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi into the spotlight. Modi, now India’s Prime Minister, had criticized the United States’ decision to clear Rana of charges related to the 2008 attacks, calling it a “major foreign policy setback.” As Rana arrived in Delhi on Thursday to face trial, Modi’s decade-old remarks have resonated widely, fueling both praise and political contention.

In the post, shared on X (then Twitter), Modi had expressed dismay at the Manmohan Singh-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government’s handling of the issue. “US declaring Tahawwur Rana innocent in Mumbai attack has disgraced the sovereignty of India & it is a ‘major foreign policy setback’,” he wrote. The comment, now circulating virally, has drawn congratulations from internet users crediting Modi’s leadership for Rana’s extradition, with many hailing it as a triumph of his government’s diplomacy.

US declaring Tahawwur Rana innocent in Mumbai attack has disgraced the sovereignty of India & it is a “major foreign policy setback”

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 10, 2011

Rana, a 64-year-old Canadian citizen of Pakistani origin, was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) immediately upon landing at Delhi’s Palam Airport via a special flight from the United States. The extradition marks a significant milestone in India’s pursuit of justice for the Mumbai attacks, which killed 166 people and injured over 238.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has hailed the development as a diplomatic victory. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, speaking at the News18 Rising Bharat Summit, declared, “Tahawwur Rana’s extradition is a big success of Prime Minister Modi’s diplomacy.” He emphasized the government’s commitment to holding accountable those who threaten India’s sovereignty, stating, “He will be brought here to face trial and punishment. It is a big success of the Modi government.” Shah also took a swipe at the Congress, noting that the UPA, in power during the 2008 attacks, failed to secure Rana’s extradition.

The Congress, however, has pushed back, attributing the extradition to groundwork laid during the UPA’s tenure. Former Home Minister P. Chidambaram, who served from November 2008 to July 2012, dismissed claims of a Modi government breakthrough. “While the Modi government is rushing to take credit for this development, the truth is far from their spin,” he said in a statement. Chidambaram highlighted that the process began on November 11, 2009, when the NIA registered a case against Rana, David Coleman Headley, and others involved in the 26/11 conspiracy. “Even though Rana was acquitted by a US court of direct involvement in the 26/11 attack in June 2011, he was convicted for other terrorism-related offences and sentenced to 14 years in prison. The UPA government publicly expressed its disappointment over his acquittal and kept diplomatic pressure alive,” he added.

Rana’s legal history in the U.S. adds context to the debate. Arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in Chicago in October 2009, he was convicted in 2011 for providing material support to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and an aborted plot to attack a Danish newspaper, receiving a 14-year sentence. However, he was acquitted of direct involvement in the Mumbai attacks, a decision that sparked India’s ire at the time.

The extradition, facilitated by sustained diplomatic efforts and cooperation with U.S. authorities, underscores India’s resolve to bring 26/11 conspirators to justice. As Rana faces trial in India, the political sparring over credit reflects deeper divides, even as the nation unites in its pursuit of accountability for one of its darkest chapters.