Political Parties Applaud Tahawwur Rana's Extradition; Congress Questions Return of Other Fugitives
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Synopsis
Political parties in India have welcomed the extradition of Tahawwur Rana, a suspect in the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Congress has urged the government to also pursue the return of other fugitives like Dawood and Mallya.
Key Takeaways
- Political unity in support of Rana's extradition.
- Congress questions the government's inaction on other fugitives.
- Call for a strong stance against all criminals who threaten India.
- BJP praises government efforts in securing Rana's return.
- Concerns over political promises regarding extradition.
New Delhi, April 9 (NationPress) Political parties from various ideological backgrounds have expressed their approval of the extradition of Tahawwur Rana, who is accused in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, following the US Supreme Court's dismissal of his petition to prevent the extradition. While Congress also commended this decision, they urged the government to focus on repatriating other prominent fugitives.
In an interview with IANS, Congress leader Nana Patole voiced his endorsement of Rana's extradition, stating, “I welcome Rana's return, but it raises the question: why hasn’t the government managed to bring back Dawood, Nirav Modi, or Vijay Mallya? These offenses occurred during our administration, and it transcends political affiliations—it's about delivering justice to those who threaten our nation.”
Patole further questioned the government's claims of wanting to repatriate these fugitives, asking why no action has been taken.
Congress representative Atul Londe echoed the call for the extradition of all individuals who have harmed the country, not only Rana.
“It’s commendable that criminals like Rana are being extradited, but we also need to prioritize the return of those who have escaped after plundering our nation's resources, such as Vijay Mallya and Nirav Modi. All such individuals must be extradited to India and face severe punishment under Indian law. We need to set a precedent to deter future crimes,” Londe remarked.
He criticized the political exploitation of extradition cases, asserting that promises made during elections often dissipate post-election.
“Whenever elections approach, discussions about bringing back criminals arise, but the matter is neglected once the elections conclude,” he added.
On the other hand, BJP leaders commended the Union government's efforts in facilitating Rana's extradition.
BJP leader Tarun Chugh praised it as a significant achievement, highlighting the contributions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and security agencies in this process.
“This is a successful initiative by the Indian government, made possible through the diligence of our security agencies and PM Modi. It exemplifies the zero-tolerance approach of the Modi administration towards those who jeopardize our nation, irrespective of their location,” Chugh stated.
BJP MLA Ram Kadam credited the success to Prime Minister Modi’s diplomatic strategies and personal influence.
“This extradition is feasible solely due to Modi Ji’s impact and the foreign policy of his administration. If Congress were in power, would this have occurred? This is the same Congress that once provided biryani to Kasab,” Kadam commented.
In the meantime, sources confirmed that Rana will be extradited to India by the National Investigation Agency, although it remains uncertain whether he will be taken to Delhi or Mumbai.
However, sources indicated that Rana is likely to arrive in Mumbai, where the planning for the 26/11 attacks took place, and will initially spend time in NIA custody.
Rana is facing charges related to his involvement in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, which resulted in the deaths of 157 individuals.
