Chidambarams Comment on Homegrown Terrorists Sparks Political Debate

Senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram has sparked controversy with his recent remark questioning why people assume that terrorists involved in the Reasi bus attack in Jammu and Kashmir came from Pakistan. He suggested that the attackers could be homegrown, not foreign, which has led to strong reactions from BJP leaders and others.

The Reasi terror attack, which occurred last month, resulted in the death of nine people when a bus carrying pilgrims was ambushed. While most leaders linked the attack to Pakistan-based terror groups, Chidambaram said there was no confirmed evidence yet that the attackers had crossed the border.He argued that jumping to conclusions without proof only harms India’s internal security assessment. “Why do you assume they came from across the border? They could be our own people,” he said, hinting at the possibility of domestic radicalisation.

His statement drew criticism from BJP spokespersons, who accused him of defending Pakistan and disrespecting the Indian armed forces’ reports. Many leaders said his comment could weaken India’s global position on terrorism and questioned his intention behind making such a claim.Despite the backlash, Chidambaram stood by his words, saying facts must be confirmed before assigning blame. He also reminded that security agencies have not yet released full details of the attackers' identities or origin.The debate has once again highlighted the sensitive nature of terrorism-related discourse in India and the deep political divide over national security matters.