Amit Shah Targets Congress in Fiery Lok Sabha Speech: “Why Shield Pakistan?”

Uses Chidambaram’s remarks to accuse Congress of giving Pakistan a “clean chit” on Pahalgam terror strike; invokes Partition, PoK, and Nehru ceasefire

Home Minister Amit Shah lit up the Lok Sabha on Tuesday with a fierce political broadside at the Congress, accusing the opposition party of “shielding” Pakistan during a key debate on the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor. At the heart of Shah’s attack was a recent remark by senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram, who had questioned Pakistan’s direct role in the April 22 massacre.

“Why are you giving Pakistan a clean chit?” Shah thundered, waving a printed quote of Chidambaram’s interview. He then accused the Congress of undermining India’s global diplomatic stance and “speaking Pakistan’s language” at home.

The Comment That Sparked the Fire

Chidambaram, in a recent media interaction, had said: “Have they [NIA] identified the terrorists or where they came from? For all we know, they could be homegrown. Why do you assume they came from Pakistan? There is no evidence of that.”

That one comment was enough.

Shah used it as a political battering ram. “If the former Home Minister of India says this, it gives Pakistan a global shield,” Shah said. “Even when the world knows what Pakistan did, Congress raises doubt inside Parliament.”

Shah claimed that Chidambaram’s words could weaken India’s case at international forums like the United Nations and FATF. He even mocked, “Had he asked me, I would have given him proof.”

The Treasury benches erupted in desk-thumping approval.

From PoK to Partition, the Gloves Came Off

Shah didn’t stop at the April 22 attack. He dove deep into history, blaming the Congress not just for present confusion but for Pakistan’s very existence.

“Pakistan exists because of the Congress,” he said. “If they had not accepted Partition, there would be no Pakistan.”

The Home Minister then pivoted to 1948, saying Indian forces were “at a decisive stage in Kashmir” when Jawaharlal Nehru, against Sardar Patel’s advice, declared a unilateral ceasefire — a move Shah said is the sole reason PoK still exists.

This wasn’t just about countering the Congress. It was about framing a historical narrative that painted the BJP as the party correcting past wrongs.

And yes, Shah named names.

Nehru, Patel, and the Ceasefire That Still Haunts India

Let’s unpack that 1948 ceasefire reference for a moment — something Shah has used before, but with more bite this time.

In Shah’s words:
“Sardar Patel kept saying no, but Nehru announced a unilateral ceasefire. If PoK exists today, it is because of Nehru. Nehru is responsible.”

That moment, originally lost in the dusty files of post-independence diplomacy, is now a core BJP talking point. It wasn’t the first time Shah had made the claim — but it was his most dramatic re-telling yet.

Some Congress MPs shouted “History is more complicated than that!” — but Shah was already moving on.

One small paragraph here, just breathing room.

Operation Sindoor, the Army’s Wins, and a Bit of Sarcasm

The Home Minister then shifted gears to the actual security operations launched in response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, where 26 people, including tourists, were killed. He listed details of the counter-terror crackdown, codenamed Operation Sindoor and Operation Mahadev, that has killed multiple militants in recent days.

He confirmed that Suleiman alias Asif — believed to be the mastermind — was gunned down near Srinagar earlier this week, along with two others carrying foreign weapons.

As he wrapped up that section, Shah turned to Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav and said sharply, “Don’t be perturbed by the religion of the terrorists.” It was an unsubtle dig at the opposition’s alleged silence on religious identity in terror debates.

Bullet Points: Shah’s Key Claims in Parliament

In case you missed some of the zingers, here’s what Amit Shah laid out during his fiery Lok Sabha remarks:

• Congress is “shielding” Pakistan with its public skepticism

• Chidambaram’s remarks give Pakistan cover internationally

• Nehru’s 1948 ceasefire decision led to the creation of PoK

• Partition itself was a “blunder” by Congress leadership

• Operation Sindoor is proof of BJP-led government’s decisive action

• India has proof of Pakistan’s involvement in Pahalgam attack

• “All roots of terrorism lead back to Pakistan,” Shah claimed

A Parliament Session That’s All Fire, No Pause

Here’s a brief breakdown of how Tuesday’s explosive Parliament debate played out:

Congress MPs, including Rahul Gandhi, were present but did not intervene during Shah’s speech. Sources say the party is planning a formal rebuttal during Wednesday’s Rajya Sabha session, where JP Nadda and S. Jaishankar are also expected to speak.

What’s the Endgame Here?

At this point, it’s not just about Pahalgam or PoK. The BJP is using this monsoon session to draw a sharp ideological contrast: Congress as the party of “ambiguity” on national security, and BJP as the party of action, clarity, and historical reckoning.

And by using past Congress leaders’ own words — Chidambaram on Pakistan, Nehru on ceasefire — Shah is turning Parliament into a courtroom. With the BJP as both plaintiff and judge.