Congress MP and former Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram on Monday strongly rebutted allegations that he attempted to exonerate Pakistan in his recent remarks on the Pahalgam terror attack. The controversy broke out after BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya shared a 30-second excerpt from an interview Chidambaram gave to The Quint, accusing him of demanding “evidence” and giving a “clean chit” to Pakistan.
Responding on X (formerly Twitter), Chidambaram said:
“Trolls are of different kinds and use different tools to spread misinformation. The worst kind is a troll who suppresses the full recorded interview, takes two sentences, mutes some words, and paints the speaker in a black colour!”
Trolls are of different kinds and use different tools to spread misinformation
The worst kind is a troll who suppresses the full recorded interview, takes two sentences, mutes some words, and paints the speaker in a black colour!
— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) July 28, 2025
The row stems from a clip where Chidambaram questioned the lack of official identification of the Pahalgam attackers:
“Why have you not apprehended them? Why have you not even identified them?”
Malviya interpreted the statement as a soft stance on Pakistan and wrote,
“P. Chidambaram, former Home Minister of India, gives Pakistan a clean chit… If they haven’t been caught, they don’t exist?”
P. Chidambaram, former UPA-era Home Minister and the original proponent of the infamous “Saffron Terror” theory, covers himself with glory yet again:
“Have they (NIA) identified the terrorists or where they came from? For all we know, they could be homegrown terrorists. Why do… pic.twitter.com/c32I1KzqOg
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) July 27, 2025
What We Know About the Attack So Far
The Pahalgam terror attack on July 13 shocked the Valley, prompting a massive manhunt and counter-operation named Operation Sindoor. As per a statement by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), two local Kashmiris have been arrested for providing logistical support. The agency has said the attackers were Pakistani nationals, but their identities are being withheld for now due to “operational reasons.”
This detail has raised questions in some quarters—including from Chidambaram—about the government’s communication strategy around the attack. In the full version of the interview, he can be seen questioning why the information about the assailants is being released “in bits and pieces” and why there’s “complete silence” from central agencies.
Karti Chidambaram Also Hits Back
Joining his father in challenging the narrative, Congress MP Karti Chidambaram also posted on X,
“Those who are trigger-happy and jumpy should watch the full interview before twisting words.”
He added that the interview reflected concern over incomplete communication, not support for Pakistan.
All those who are trigger happy & jumpy must watch the interview in its entirety before commenting. It’s a 40 minute interview FYI https://t.co/bvMk7sXIkA
— Karti P Chidambaram (@KartiPC) July 28, 2025
Politics Heats Up Before Parliament Debate
The controversy comes a day before Chidambaram is scheduled to speak in the Rajya Sabha during a high-stakes debate on the Kashmir situation and Operation Sindoor. The Lok Sabha took up the matter on Monday, and political sparring is expected to intensify across both houses.
Congress leaders say that asking questions about investigation transparency is neither anti-national nor pro-Pakistan—and that demanding evidence is not the same as denying facts.
While Chidambaram’s critics continue to circulate the clipped video, supporters point out that the full interview presents a legitimate line of inquiry into how the government is handling sensitive information in a volatile region.
As Parliament braces for heated discussions, Chidambaram’s words—and the selective outrage around them—may become a flashpoint in the broader battle over national security, accountability, and political narrative-building in India’s digital age.
