Recently, a 14-year-old tweet by Prime Minister Narendra Modi went viral. This happened after
Tahawwur Rana, an accused in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, was extradited from the United States to India on Thursday.
Back in 2011, Modi was the Chief Minister of Gujarat. At that time, he criticized the Congress-led UPA government. He responded strongly after a US court ruled that Rana was not directly involved in the Mumbai attacks, which killed 166 people.
As Modi wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “US declaring Tahawwur Rana innocent in Mumbai attack has disgraced the sovereignty of India & it is a major foreign policy setback.”
Now that Indian officials have Rana in custody, many people on social media are praising Modi’s long-standing efforts. As a result, the phrase “Modi hai toh mumkin hai (If there's Modi, it's possible)” is trending widely.
For example, one user posted, “A leader who walks the talk. Captain my captain.” Another added, “You did it sir!! Kudos and thank you!”
Who is Tahawwur Rana?
Tahawwur Rana is a Canadian citizen of Pakistani origin. After years of legal fights, India finally brought him back from the US. He had tried to block his extradition by citing health and legal reasons. Nevertheless, his return is a major step in India’s effort to seek justice for the 2008 attacks.
Upon his arrival, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested him. Immediately after, a special court in Delhi granted 18 days of custody to the agency. According to officials, Rana played a key support role in the planning of the attacks.
Notably, he helped David Coleman Headley, one of the main conspirators. Headley later turned approver in the case. He revealed that Rana gave him cover while he traveled in Mumbai to scout targets such as the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Chabad House, and CST station.
How Rana Supported the Attack
Additionally, Rana helped Headley get a long-term Indian visa. He also allowed Headley to set up a fake office in Mumbai. Furthermore, officials say Rana stayed in contact with others involved in the attack, including 'Major Iqbal', a Pakistani intelligence officer.
In fact, Rana visited India in November 2008—just days before the attacks. As per a charge sheet filed in 2023, Rana stayed in a hotel in Powai. During his stay, he discussed crowded areas in South Mumbai with another individual. That person has now become a key witness.
Soon afterward, terrorists attacked some of those very locations. The attackers, linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba, struck iconic spots including the Taj and Oberoi hotels, CST station, Leopold Café, and Chabad House. According to officials, Headley had already surveyed these places with Rana’s help.
India’s Long Legal Battle
Originally, US authorities arrested Rana in 2009. In 2011, a US court found him guilty of supporting a terror group. However, it didn’t find enough evidence to convict him for his direct role in the 26/11 attacks. This led to backlash in India, including Modi’s now-famous tweet.
Later, Rana received a 14-year prison sentence. But in 2020, the court released him on health grounds. Soon after, India requested his extradition. The US re-arrested him and kept him in custody during several legal appeals. Eventually, Rana lost every challenge.
Finally, he was handed over to India. His extradition came after Prime Minister Modi visited the US earlier this year. During that visit, former President Donald Trump confirmed that the process was already underway.
