Sibal praises Congress after NIA cages 2008 key accused Tahawwur Rana-OxBig News Network

After the BJP’s repeated snub to the Congress for doing “nothing” against terrorism, the Congress on Friday received support from an unexpected quarter as the party’s former leader Kapil Sibal lauded its role in the formation of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which secured 2008 Mumbai attack accused Tahawwur Rana’s extradition to India from the US.

Rajya Sabha MP Sibal said NIA was formed during the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government in the country, of which he himself was part as minister.

“I remember NIA was established during the UPA times. It registered a case in this incident on November 11, 2008, where the accused were David Headley and Tahawwur Rana,” Sibal said while addressing reporters here.

He added, “Today, the accused is before us, and things will become more clear as we know that only Rana and Headley were not the conspirators but more were involved. It will become clear who all from Pakistan’s establishment were involved in that attack.”

While lauding the Congress-led UPA regime, he said, “I congratulate the UPA as well as our government for their efforts, which have been successful. We have Rana in India today.”

The probe agency was founded in December 2008, a month after the November 26 attacks in India’s financial capital. The Congress-led UPA was in power in the country from May 2004 till May 2014 but BJP has been repeatedly criticising the Congress for “doing nothing” after the Mumbai attacks.

On Thursday, Rana was formally arrested upon his arrival in India following his extradition from the US, which came after he had exhausted all legal avenues to prevent the move. NIA has placed 64-year-old Rana, accused in the 2008 Mumbai attack, under 18-day custody.

NIA presented Rana before a special court, where the probe agency argued for his custodial interrogation to uncover the full 2008 conspiracy.