'PM Modi should not get credit': Digvijaya Singh says Congress started Tahawwur Rana's extradition process

NEW DELHI: Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Saturday refused to give credit to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the successful extradition of 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks accused Tahawwur Rana, and gave credit to his own party instead.

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Singh told news agency ANI, "Tahawwur Rana was involved in the 26/11 attacks, and his extradition was possible only because UPA government put his name in the investigation at the right time and he was arrested in the United States. After completing 14 years of imprisonment, he was extradited to India."

The veteran politician continued, "Congress started the process, and credit PM Modi doesn't deserve any credit."

On Thursday, another senior Congress member, P Chidambaram, too, said Rana's extradition was due to "years of groundwork" of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government.

Chidambaram said in a statement, "In February, PM Modi and (US) President Trump stood at a press conference and tried to take credit for what was essentially the result of years of UPA-era groundwork. By February 17, Indian officials confirmed Rana's role in the 26/11 conspiracy, dating back to 2005, when he coordinated with LeT and ISI operatives. Finally, on April 8, US authorities handed Rana over to Indian officials. He arrived in New Delhi on April 10."

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64-year-old Rana, a Canadian citizen and native of Pakistan, was extradited to stand trial in India on 10 criminal charges stemming from his alleged role in the Mumbai terror attacks of November 26, 2008.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) successfully secured his extradition after years of sustained and concerted efforts to bring the key conspirator to justice.

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The extradition finally came through after Rana had exhausted all legal avenues to stay on the move. He was brought to India on April 10 and produced before an NIA court, where he was sent to 18 days of custody.