New Delhi – In a sharp attack on the Congress party, Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) MP Dr. Shrikant Shinde alleged in the Lok Sabha today that after the horrific 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, the then Congress-led Maharashtra governmenttook Bollywood celebrities to the Taj Hotel, instead of showing real resolve against terrorism. He accused Congress of utter failure in combating terrorism, despite hundreds of innocent civilian casualties during its tenure.
Participating in the debate on Operation Sindoor, Dr. Shinde presented Shiv Sena’s stance and said, "Shiv Sena will never compromise on the issue of national security."
Dr. Shinde said, “Even today, the country has not fully recovered from the trauma of the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai, in which hundreds of innocent lives were lost. Instead of expressing national grief, the then Chief Minister of Maharashtra took Bollywood celebrities to the Taj Hotel. This was a moment of shame for the entire nation.”
He further added that while Congress failed to prevent such attacks during its rule, the country has witnessed no major terror attack in Maharashtra in the past 10 years, which he credited to strong leadership at the Centre.
Congress Stalled Justice, Says Shinde
Dr. Shinde also cited the Pahalgam terror attack, mentioning that three innocent people from his Kalyan constituencyhad died. Through Operation Mahadev, the Centre had ensured justice to their families. In contrast, 127 victims of the 2006 Mumbai local train bomb blasts are still awaiting justice, he said, blaming Congress for allowing the accused to walk free.
He pointed out that an accused in the 1993 Mumbai blasts had campaigned for a candidate from the UBT (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) faction, questioning their credibility to speak on national security.
Criticism Over Repeal of POTA and Bhopal Gas Tragedy
Dr. Shinde also slammed Congress for repealing the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA), claiming that its removal led to a spike in terror activities. He further accused the Congress of helping the main accused in the Bhopal Gas Tragedy escape the country and alleged that the party had “sympathy for Afzal Guru”, the mastermind behind the 2001 Parliament attack.
Shinde recounted that it was only after Balasaheb Thackeray's demand to then President Pranab Mukherjee that Afzal Guru was executed, despite Congress’ earlier hesitation.
He also mocked the response of the then Union Home Minister, stating that while cities were reeling under attacks, “the Home Minister was busy changing clothes three times a day.”
