Manish Tewari criticises UPA govt’s post 26/11 response in his book, BJP attacks Congress

New Delhi: BJP on Tuesday said MP Manish Tewari's criticism of then UPA government for adopting soft behaviour post 26/11 terror attack has revealed the Congress's failure on national security.

“It was ‘sad’ that the Indian Air Force and army were not granted permission to retaliate for the terrorist attacks by the UPA govt,” said BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia, while addressing a press conference here.

“Congress president Sonia Gandhiji, Rahul Gandhiji will you break your silence today? Sonia Gandhiji, our question is why India's brave army was not given permission at that time?” he questioned.

Earlier, Congress MP Manish Tewari in his book '10 Flash Points; 20 Years - National Security Situations that Impacted India' the then government's response was not "Kinetic enough".

"For a state that has no compunctions in brutally slaughtering hundreds of innocent people, restraint is not a sign of strength; it is perceived as a symbol of weakness. There comes a time when actions must speak louder than words. 26/11 was one such time when it just should have been done," Tewari said in the book.

He further said, at the time of 26/11 attack then Air Chief Marshal had sought permission from then PM Manmohan Singh but was not given to him.

He has also written that India should have taken strict action against Pakistan after the Mumbai attack but it only kept talking. He also said that not taking action is a sign of weakness.

Responding to the Congress MP's remarks, the BJP spokesperson said, “Whatever Manish Tewariji said in his book, it would be appropriate to call it a confession of the failure of the Congress”.

“Today it became clear that the Congress government was useless and not even concerned about the integrity of India on issues like national security," he said.

“This revelation becomes a very serious dereliction of duty and Congress must come out and answer,” he added.

Earlier, BJP IT cell in-charge Amit Malviya slammed the Congress on the issue.

“After Salman Khurshid, another Congress leader throws UPA under the bus to sell his book. Manish Tewari in his new book slams the UPA for weakness in the name of restraint post 26/11. Air Chief Marshal Fali Major is already on record saying IAF was ready to strike but UPA froze,” he tweeted.

On November 26, 2008, ten Pakistan-based LeT terrorists had carried out 12 coordinated shootings and bombings in multiple location in Mumbai, killed more than 150 and injuries several.

Nine terrorists killed and the lone surviving attacker, Ajmal Kasab, was arrested and executed November 11, 2012.

The gruesome attack took place as the Congress-led UPA was in power at the centre. (UNI)