India seems to be celebrating the extradition of Tahawwur Hussain Rana from America, the key accused in the Mumbai serial terror strike that shook India in 2008. But for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s intervention and his personal rapport with the American President Donald Trump, this would not have happened. It does not matter Opposition does not give credit to Modi. It gives credit to UPA Government led by Congress for Rana’s extradition! A case similar to Ripley’s ‘Believe It or Not.’ Let it be.

In the 26, November 2008 terrorist attack, 10 members of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), a Pakistani terror outfit, took part and the mayhem lasted four days at various locations, including the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CST Railway Station) and the Taj Mahal Hotel. A total of 175 people died and more than 300 injured. Nine of the attackers too died. Only one terrorist, Ajmal Kasab survived. He was looked after very well by the victim nation (as per its Secular Constitution) feeding him with delicious biriyani till he was hanged after four years in 2012.

India has been a punching bag for Pakistan-supported terrorists since independence. I guess, after J&K, the focus has been mainly Mumbai, though Delhi too suffered attacks. How can we forget the attack on our Parliament in 2001? Many terrorist attacks had occurred in Mumbai since 1993 coordinated 13 bomb explosions. It killed 257 people on March 12, 1993. Dawood Ibrahim was said to be the mastermind but India could not get him extradited from wherever he is. But miracles can always happen under Modi as has happened with Rana now. Then followed a minor attack in 2002, in 2003 four attacks. In one attack in South Mumbai, 44 people were killed and 150 injured. Then in 2006, seven bombs exploded within 11 minutes killing 209 people including 22 foreigners and 700 injured. According to Mumbai Police, the bombings were carried out by Lashkar-e-Taiba and Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI).

Thus the commercial capital of India was the target and Mumbai was left bleeding when the most barbaric and tragic of all attacks took place in 2008 and Rana was one of the key accused who perpetrated the worst evil upon Mumbai.

Ironically, Rana was arrested and jailed in America in 2009 for another offence, not connected to 2008 Mumbai carnage. Both Rana and David Coleman Headley, also involved in 2008 Mumbai attack, were arrested by the FBI in 2009 for backing LeT in a plot to commit murder in Denmark. The US Court convicted both of them. Rana was sentenced to 14 years. But for this conviction, it is doubtful this extradition would have been possible at all.

It is curious, though four American citizens were killed in the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attack and the mayhem that followed, Rana was cleared by a US Court. However, India had declared Rana a wanted person and issued an arrest warrant on August 28, 2018 — four years after Modi came to power in 2014. Under US President Joe Biden, extradition was not possible. Certainly India would not have got Rana extradited to India if Donald Trump had not become the US President in January 2025. Simply a case of serendipity!

Now, looking at the present political ecosystem of our country with I.N.D.I.A Opposition led by LoP (you know who!) it is best for our Courts and the prosecution lawyers to bring a closure to the case before 2029 Parliamentary elections. Did you get me Steve?

At this point, it is pertinent for all nationalist Indians to remember the pusillanimous policy pursued by UPA Government that went blatantly soft on Pakistan and did not react either militarily or diplomatically ignoring the sentiments and anger of a nation held to ransom by Pakistan. The brutality of the terror attack of 2008 was such it was a challenge to our country’s sovereignty. Our Air Force was waiting for orders, as one retired Air Marshal said on TV. India showed itself as a soft State before a small, failed State, Pakistan. This is what we call failed leadership. An enfeebled leadership that accepts defeat under pious protest merely expressing victimhood. That is what we get when appeasement policy is followed to remain in power. Are we a failed Democracy then?

Fortunately now, to use Nehruvian language, we have redeemed our strength and dignity among the comity of nations as a strong sovereign country under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s charismatic visionary leadership.  Modi Hai Toh Mumkin Hai.

And finally, let me remember and salute late ASI Tukaram Omble, the Officer who took many bullets from Mohammad Ajmal Kasab and sacrificed his life while capturing the Pakistani terrorist Kasab alive. But for this brave-heart, the leaders of the Congress-led UPA Government would have continued blaming RSS and ‘Hindu terrorism,’ a new vocabulary, as cause for the 2008 mayhem.

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