In a sharp political challenge, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi has directly questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government over bringing the perpetrators of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks to justice. Owaisi's remarks, made on Saturday, drew a parallel to the recent military action by the United States in Venezuela.
A Direct Challenge to the Leadership
Addressing a gathering in Mumbai, Owaisi invoked the recent events in Venezuela where US forces, under President Donald Trump, captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. "We saw today that US President Donald Trump's forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and took him from his country to America," Owaisi stated.
He then turned his focus to the Indian leadership, addressing PM Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. "We are telling you, Modiji, why can't you send troops into Pakistan and bring back the masterminds of the 26/11 terrorist attacks to India, whether it's Masood Azhar or a cruel devil from Lashkar-e-Taiba?" he demanded.
In a pointed reference to PM Modi's political persona, Owaisi added, "Modiji, 56-inch ka seena hai, then abduct them and bring them back to India."
The Venezuela Precedent Cited by Owaisi
Owaisi's argument hinges on the dramatic operation conducted by the United States. On January 4, 2026, President Donald Trump confirmed a "large scale strike against Venezuela" on his Truth Social platform. He announced that President Nicolas Maduro and his wife had been captured and flown out of the country to New York.
Trump had earlier shared an image of a blindfolded Maduro on board the USS Iwo Jima. The US President stated that the operation, which involved US Special Forces and knocked out power in parts of Caracas, was conducted "in conjunction with US Law Enforcement."
Trump further declared that the US would run Venezuela temporarily to ensure a safe transition, stating, "We can't take a chance that someone else takes over Venezuela who doesn't have the interests of Venezuelans in mind." Venezuelan officials, however, vowed defiance.
The Lingering Demand for 26/11 Justice
Owaisi's comments tap into a long-standing national sentiment in India regarding the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. The 2008 terror siege, carried out by militants from the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), resulted in the deaths of 166 people and injured hundreds more.
India has consistently demanded that Pakistan bring the alleged masterminds, including LeT founder Hafiz Saeed and operations commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, to justice. The mention of Masood Azhar, the chief of the Jaish-e-Mohammed group, also references another wanted terrorist linked to attacks on Indian soil.
By drawing a comparison to the US's unilateral action in Venezuela, Owaisi's rhetoric amplifies the political pressure on the ruling government to take more decisive steps against cross-border terrorism and fulfill its promises of delivering justice for the victims of 26/11.
